mm 


T'T^ii^'itTfl^lr. 


vummmmmmt9*»y^'>^''mtmifmes£at«»^:!i^.' 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

or  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE    MANX   WITCH 


AND    OTHER    POEMS 


^, 


THE   MANX  WITCH 


AND    OTHER    POEMS 


BY 


T.    E.    BROWN 

AUTHOR   OF    'BETSY    LEE,'    '  FO'c'S'LE    YARNS,'    ETC. 


Hontion 

MACMILLAN    AND    CO. 

AND    NEW  YORK 
1889 


Aii  rights  reserz'cd 


/5r 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

I.  The  Manx  Witch.     By  T.  Baynes         .         .         i 
II.  The  Indiaman,     By  T.  Baynes         .         .         .148 

III.  The  Christening 171 

IV.  Peggy's  Wedding 178 

V.  Mary  Quayle.     The  Curate's  Story     .         .193 

VI.  Bella  Gorry.     The  Pazon's  Story        .         .     234 


870aG9 


First  comes  Tom  Baynes  among  these  sorted  quills, 

In  asynartete  octosyllables. 

Methinks  you  see  the  "  fo'c's'le  "  squat,  the  squirt 

Nicotian,  various  interval  of  shirt, 

Enlarged,  contract — keen  swordsman,  cut-and-thrust  : 

Old  salt,  old  rip,  old  friend,  Tom  Baynes  comes  fusL 

Succeeds  our  Curate,  innocent  and  good, 

The  growth  of  Oxford  in  her  sanest  mood  ; 

Dame  Nature's  child,  though  bred  among  the  Stoics, 

And,  if  he  gush,  he  gushes  in  heroics. 

Forgive  the  youth  if  sometimes  he  relax 

In  extra  gush  of  pseudo-dochmiacs. 

Last  hear  our  Pazon,  reverend  and  meek  ; 

In  unadorned  verse  I  make  him  speak. 

As  is  most  fit.      To  him  Tom  Baynes'  rude  style 

Were  "  simply  barbarous  " — I  see  him  smile 

H/s  smile — "  Poor  Tom  has  thoughts  beyond  his  station, 

But  language  I  sir — unfit  for  publication." 

The  Curate's  rhymes  he  haply  thinks  audacious, 

Emphatic,  overwrought.      "  But  'twere  ungracious 

Of  me  to  criticise  a  gentleman 

That  is  so  kind  and  clever."     There  again 

You  have  our  Pazon.      So  he  says  his  say, 

And  all  my  dreams  of  Manxland  fade  away. 

T.  E.  B, 
Clifton.,  April  1889. 


THE    MANX  WITCH 

A  STORY  OF  THE  LAXDALE  MINES 

The  Pazon  that  overtook  her  there 
Comin  home  from  HoUantide  fair — 
The  Pazon  ?     No,  but  Nessy  Brew — 
Overtook  her  at  FoUieu, 
Past  Bibaloe — aye,  man,  aye — 
Middlin  near  the  Never-say-die — 
Toplisses — you'll  know  the  spot — 
Nessy  Brew  though,  whether  or  not — 
Nessy — her  of  coorse  that  had  been 
xA.t  the  fair— The  Pazon  ?  navar  was  seen, 
Nor  navar  could  be  at  the  like  of  yandhar- 
Pazon  Gale  !  you  goosie-gandhar — 

B 


THE  MANX   WITCH 

What  are  you  thinkin  of?     Navar !  navar! 
Some  people's  got  a  notion  they're  clavar — 
Witty— eh  ?     But  navar  mind. 
Cryin  ?  most  despard  !  cryin,  cryin, 
Cryin  fit  to  break  her  heart, 
The  Pazon  was  sayin  ;  and  her  that  smart, 
Of  a  rule,  and  noways  apt  to  be  freckened  ^ 
Night  or  day. 

So  the  Pazon  reckoned 
She  must  have  got  in  some  trouble,  and  hauls 
Ould  Smiler  back  in  the  breeches,  and  calls ; 
And  "  Nessy,"  he  says,  "  is  that  you  ? 
It's  Nessy,  isn't  it  ?     Nessy  Brew  ?  ' 
Dark,  you  know,  and  drizzlin  rain — 
But  Nessy  wouldn  answer  again 
For  a  bit — don't  ye  see?  Ick  didn  want 
The  Pazon  to  know  her,  and  made  a  slant, 
•And  stoopin  there,  and  in  on  the  ditch. 
But  the  Pazon  gave  a  little  s/a'/c//, 
And  got  in  front,  and  jtinned  her  as  nate 
As  pozzible,  and — 

*'  You're  very  late 
'   Kriglilcucil. 


THE  MANX  WITCH 

On  the  road,"  he  says — and  waein  and  worn — 

And — "  How  are  you  on  the  road  alone  ? 

Extrorn'ry  !  "  says  the  Pazon — "  What  ! 

Alone  ! "  he  says — and  this  and  that, 

But  kind — aw  bless  ye  !  kind  thallure  ^ — 

And — "  Nessy,  Nessy,  to  be  sure  ! " 

And — "  Get  up,  and  tell  me  all  aburrit."  - 

So  Nessy  seen  there  was  nothin  for  it 

But  up  she  must  in  the  Pazon's  gig : 

And  then  she  tould  him  all  the  rig — 

Well — maybe  not  all — not  raisonable — 

A  gel,  you  know — they're  hardly  able — 

Aisy  !  aisy  with  the  lek  ! 

All !   God  bless  ye  !  you  musn  expeck^ — 

And  talkin  to  a  Pazon — eh  ? 

And  didn  know  hardly  what  to  say, 

But  tould  him — Says  she,  "  I  didn  lave  Doolish  ^ 

Alone  at  all ;  "  and  rather  foolish 

She  was  feelin  of  coorse,  aw  sartinly — 

"There  was  two  people  tuk  the  road  with  me," 

Says  Nessy.      "  Two,"  says  the  Pazon,  "  aw  dear  ! 

And  did  you  meet  them  in  the  feer  ?  "  '^ 

^  Enough.  -  About  it.  ^  Douglas.  *  Fair. 


4  THE   MANX  WITCH 

"  The  fecr  ? "  says  Nessy,  "  no — at  laste 

It  might  ha'  been — a  nisy  place 

In  a  field.''  she  says,  "  there  was  bosses  there — 

Is  that  what  people  is  callin  the  feer  ? 

Hosses,  and  gingerbread,  and  pop, 

And  cows,  and  calves — but  I  didn  stop." 

"  Didn  yc  ?  "  says  the  Tazon  then  ; 

'*  And  was  it  two  women,  or  was  it  two  men 

Vou  tuk  the  road  with  ?  "     Aw,  not  a  word 

From  Nessy.     "  I  think,"  says  the  Pazon,  "  I  heard 

Vour  friends  down  there  on  the  ^\'hitcbridgc  hill." 

".Aw,"  .says  Nessy,  "are  they  fightin  still?" 

"  No,"  says  the  Pazon,  "  they  warn  together, 

One  was  far  ahead  of  the  other, 

Shoutin  though,  the  two  of  them — 

Ves,  I  think  it'll  be  the  same; 

And  you'll  'scuse  me,"  he  says — sittin  up  like  a  crowbar 

Was  the  Pazon  then— "they  were  hardly  sober, 

Hardly,"  he  says;  and  then  his  vice 

(icv  a  little  hem  !  like  puttin  a  splice 

On  his  kind  ould  throat— "a  little,"  he  says, 

"  A  little  tossicated — yes — 

A  little,  I  think  ;  a  little  (|ueer ; 


THE  MANX  WITCH  5 

And  usin  language,  I  think  they  were, 
Language — aye — -" 

"  They  were  fightin,"  says  Nessy, 
"  When  I  left  them — aw  messy  !  ^  messy  ! '"' 
She  says,  "  they've  lost  one  another,  that's  it. 
Lost  they  have,  and  '11  hommer  and  hit 
And  grab  in  the  dark  there,  and  navar  get  hould, 
And '11  take  and  get  their  death  of  could — 
Oh  dear  !  oh  dear  !  "  and  began  a  sabbin. 
"  I  suppose  this  homm'rin  and  hittin  and  grabbin 
Is  about  a  young  woman  called  Nessy  Brew," 
Says  the  Pazon.     "  Oh  !  they'd  come  for  you," 
Says  Nessy,  "  they'd  come  for  you  they  wud  ; " 
And  "  Aw  the  muck  !  and  aw  the  blood  ! 
Yes,  sir,  aw  yes,  sir  !  aw  poor  Jack— 
And  Harry  too — "  And—"  Let's  turn  back  !  " 

"  And  why  did  you  lave  them  ?  "  says  the  vicar  ; 
And — "  The  two  of  them,"  she  says,  "  in  liquor  ; 
And  I  thought,  sir,  I  thought,  when  they  hadn  me, 
It's  peacefuller  they'd  be  sure  to  be, 
And  helpin  each  other,  and  takin  rest," 

1  Mercv.  ^  Pacified. 


6  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  forgettin  me." — "Aw,  indeed,"  he  says, 

"  Forgettin  you  then — aw  the  poor  chile  ! " 

And  he  smiled,  and  bless  ye !  you'll  feel  a  smile 

In  the  dark — "forgettin,  and  lost  the  bearins — 

Poor  thing !  and  have  you  got  your  fairins 

In  your  handkecher  ?     And—"  Yes."—"  All  right !  " 

.Says  the  I'azon,  "  you'll  not  see  these  young  men  to-night 

Again,"  he  says;  so — "  Come  up,  Smiler  !  " 

And  away,  and  tryin  to  reconcile  her. 

liut  scouldcd  a  little  too,  and  Jhno 
Did  the  father  a'cr  go  and  allow 
The  like  of  her,  that  hadn  no  call. 
To  be  goin  to  Hoi lantidc  fair  at  all'l 
But  gain  l>y  herself?     "  1  went  with  my  auni," 
Says  Nessy.     "  She's  a  woman  that's  scant 
Of  prudence,"  says  the  Pazon,  says  he — 
"  liilly's  widow — and  where  is  she  ?  " 
"  I  think  she's  tuk  at  these  poleeses," 

Says  Ncssy.      "  There's  aunts  that's  worse  till  their  nieces," 
The  Pa/on  said  ;  and  indeed  hed  spake 
To  her  father,  he  said.     Au<  the  sake  I  the  sake! 
And  beseechin  he  wouldn.      "  I  owe  it,"  he  says, 


THE  MANX  WITCH  7 

"To  your  father,"  the good-naturedest, 
The  simplest  man  that  ever  he  ktieiv — 
"  Poor  Brew  !  "  he  says,  "  poor  Jemmy  Brew  !  " 

And  then  he  spoke  though,  terble  nice — 
Aw  the  beautiful  advice  ! 
Delicake  though,  delicake — 
Aw  that  was  the  Pazon,  bide  or  break. 
But  when  they  came  to  the  steep  hill 
At  the  Cloven  Stones,  "  Sit  still,  sit  still !  " 
Says  the  Pazon,  and  down  on  his  tippitoes, 
And  a  hould  of  Smiler  by  the  nose, 
And  leadin,  and  thinkin,  and  hoic  he  must  warn  her, 
And  "  serious  very  !  "  turns  Kelly's  corner 
At  the  bottom  yandhar,  and  a  stip  and  a  step. 
And  a  heave  and  a  plump,  and  where  was  this  rep  ?  ^ 

Maybe  a  mile  aback  on  the  road 
By  gough  !  and  him  that  navar  knowed— 
Tuk  her  opportunity, 
Slipt  out,  and  away,  of  coorse  to  see 
Could  she  find  these  chaps,  aw,  I'll  be  bail — 

1  Rip. 


THE  MANX  WITCH 

"The  little  monkey  ! "  says  Pazon  Gale. 

Aw,  bless  ye  !  I've  heard  him  tellin 

Another  Pazon,  ould  Pazon  C.ellin, 

That  was  on  St.  Mark's,  I  did,  I  did, 

Yes,  and  shakin  his  dear  old  head  : 

"  :\nd  I'm  not  in  the  habit  of  the  lek, 

.Mr.  Cicllin,"  he  says,  "and  you'd  hardly  expeck, 

But  tuk  like  that,  and  the  way  she'd  fled, 

I  called  her  a  little  monkey  ! "  he  said. 

Little  she  wasn,  no  !  doodoss  !  ^ 
But  aw  the  funny  the  Pazon  was  ! 
Oood  though,  good  ;  aw,  bless  your  heart ! 
That's  the  timber  '11  navar  start. 
'Bout  ship,  sir !  aye  immadicnt, 
.And  then  this  poor  ould  reverend  gent, 
Backards  and  forrards  the  best  of  the  night 
Drivin  there,  a  most  shockin  sight, 
If  he  could  ha'  been  seen  ;   Ijui  made  up  his  mind 
.•\t  last  to  go  on  to  Ballaquine, 
Brew's  farm  that  was  lyin  east. 
Far  beyond  the  Pazon's  place, 

I'.y  Jove  (or  some  such  expletive). 


I   p. 


THE  MANX  WITCH 

And  he^d  tell  the  father  and  see  would  he  go 
To  look  for  his  daughter  himself  .   .  .  and  so 

Off  with  him  straight,  and  hardly  awake — 
Aw,  bless  ye  !  the  day  was  begun  to  break, 
And — Mrs.  Gale — aw  well  of  coorse. 
And  nathural,  and  shuttin  the  doors 
Every  night  at  nine  o'clock ; 
And  let  a  man  be  as  studdy  as  a  rock. 
And  a  Pazon  too,  but  still,  dear  me ! 
Lookin  terble  like  on  the  spree — 
Backard  and  forrard,  and  niddin  and  noddin, 
Just  like  ould  Jemmy  Ballavoddin — 

And  the  Misthress 

Well,  I'll  say  no  more, 
But  up  with  him  there  and  slams  at  the  door 
With  the  end  of  his  whip,  and  hurroosc  !  Incrroo  I 
Jemmy  !  James  I  Mr.  Brew  !  Air.  Brew  I 
And  Jemmy  to  put  his  head  out  of  the  windy, 
And — Bless  his  sowl !  and  ivhat  was  the  shindy  ? 
And — "  Is  Nessy  at  home  ?  "  says  the  Pazon  then  : 
Nessy  at  home  !   "  Why Nessy  ven  !  ■' 

1  Dear. 


lo  THE   MANX   WITCH 

Nessy !  goodness  grayshers  !  Pazon — 
Ncssy  at  home  I  a  queer  thing  to  be  as'in ; 
D'ye  think  she's  out  agate  o'  the  priddhars ' 
As  arly  as  this  ? "     So  the  Pazon  considhars 
A  bit,  and — "  Call  her  then,"  he  said, 
"Call  her." — **  Nessy,  ger  up  urrov"  bed. 
And  spake  to  the  Pazon — funny  work  !  " 
And  shuts  the  windhar  with  a  jerk. 

And  then  another  windhar  went  down. 
And  out  come  a  bunch  of  curls  as  brown 
As  a  nut,  and  a  face  as  fresh  as  a  rose. 
And  just  the  smallest  taste  of  clothes. 
And  the  sun  all  dabbin  her  like  fire. 
And  looks  at  the  Pazon  as  modest — "  Retire, 
Retire,"  says  the  Pazon  ;  "  that  "11  do,  that  '11  do," 
And  not  another  word  to  Brew 
Nor  the  daughter  neither ;   but  turns  the  boss, 
And  home  with  him.     It  wasn  cross 
He  was  lookin,  no  !  but  sad  though,  sad, 
Lck  sorrowful,  lek  a  way  he  had. 

'   ToLitocs.  ■•*  Out  of. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  li 

Aye,  but  Brew  was  puzzled  greatly, 
Bless  ye  !  he  was  beat  complately— 
The  Fazo?i  wa?id''7-in  about  in  the  dai'k 
Of  a  HoUantide  night — a  'stonishin  lark, 
Wantin  Nessy  before  she  was  itp  ! 
Dear  me  !  Could  he  have  had  a  sup, 
Or  what  ?  but  no  !  iinpozzible — ■ 
The  Pazon — aye  there's  some  of  them  will, 
No  doubt !  no  doubt !  bid  drinkin  !  him  I 
Aw,  bless  your  granny  !  sink  or  swim, 
That  zvas  the  Fazon — 

"What  cud  it  ha'  been, 
Nessy  ?  "  he  says,  "  I  navar  seen 
The  lek,"  he  says  :  "  was  it  walkin  he  was 
In  his  sleep,  or  drivin,  at  laste,  and  the  boss 
Tuk  for  the  Ballaquine  on  a  chance  ?  " 
But  710  !  God  bless  him  I  there  wasn  no  sense 
In  that ;  and  the  late  or  the  arly — which  ? 
And  beat  all  conscience  and  as  dark  as  pitch 
The  jnost  of  the  time — and 

"  Nessy  gel, 
What  could  he  be  wantin  ?     Was  he  lookin  unwell  ? 
But  my  goodness  grayshers !  just  to  ax 


12  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Were  you  up,  and  then  to  be  makin  tracks 

Lck  immadient  there — d'ye  see  ! 

And  no  satisfaction  for  nobody. 

And  Smiler — aye — nearly  druv  ofT  his  legs — 

What  could  it  be,  Nessy  ?  " 

"Maybe  eggs," 
Says  Nessy — "  Yes,  he's  thinkin  a  dale 
Of  our  fresh  eggs  is  Pazon  Gale — 
Tould  me  so." — "  Aw  dear,  that's  rum," 
Says  Brew,  "and  why  didn  ye  give  him  some?" 
"  Because  he  didn  ax,"  says  she — 
"  Ax  ?  is  it  ax  ?  "  and  "  Fiddledee  ! 
Eggs  !  woman,  eggs  !  it  couldn  ha'  been — 
Bless  my  sowl !  the  man  'd  be  keen 
For  his  eggs  that  'd  come  that  arly — ch  ? 
Nessy,  Nessy."     'MN'cll,  anyway," 
Says  Nessy,  "the  Pa/.on's  allis  talkin 
About  our  eggs  ;  'They're  nice  though  shockin,' 
He  was  sayin,  'just  like  wax.'  " 
"  My  goodness  grayshcrs  !  why  didn  he  ax  ?  " 
Says  the  father.     "  Maybe  he  forgot," 
Says  Nessy.     Then  Hrcw  got  middlin  hot. 
And  "  You're  just  talkin  nonsense,"  he  says,  "  be  quite, 


THE   MANX  WITCH  13 

Not  another  word  !  " 

Then  he  laughed  outright 
When  he  thought  of  the  Pazon  and  the  way  he  cut, 
And  then  he  gev  a  Httle  chut !  ^ 
And  "  I  have  it !  "  he  says,  "  it's  Copper,  guy  heng  !  - 
Copper  !  that's  the  very  theng  !  " 
Copper — a  maihe  ^  cow  that  was  arrim,^ 
Three  cows,  I  think,  not  much  of  a  farrim,^ 
More  hke  a  croft,  or  the  hke  of  that — 
"  Copper — that's  what  he  was  at : 
And  knew  I  was  wantin  to  sell  her — eh  ? 
But  couldn  go  with  her  anyway 
To  the  fair — that  accounts  for  this  scarum-scorum,'^ 
Freckened  some  would  be  before  him — 

That's  the  arly dear  me  ! 

The  anxious  lek  the  man  must  be — 

It'll  come  in  the  price,  aw  'deed  it  will — 

He's  hot  upon  her — she's  very  lill,'' 

But  good  uncommon — twelve  I'll  take  for  her. 

Twelve  pound  ten." — "  And  why  didn  he  spake  for  her? 

^  Tut  (interjection). 
-  A  harmless  kind  of  oath.      ^  Without  horns.      ^  At  him,  that  he  had. 
^  Farm.  ®  Eccentric  conduct.  ''  Little. 


14  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Surely  he  might  have  axed,"  says  she. 

"  I  suppose  he  forgot  it." — "  Fiddlededee  !  " 

Says  Nessy — *'  Like  the  eggs,"  says  Brew, 

And  hc-he-he  and  Jioo-hoo-hoo — 

They  laughed  and  they  laughed— "  forgot !  "  "  forgot !  " 

"  Like  the  eggs,"  "like  the  cow,"  like  the go  to  pot ! 

"  Forgot,  no  doubt,  forgot !  "  and  as  merry 
The  two  of  them  there — aw  very,  very. 

That  night  I  was  up  at  the  Ballaquine ; 
And  there  was  Nessy,  and  Sally  Behind — 
The  aunt,  you  know,  a  widow  woman. 
And  a  sister  of  Brew's,  that  was  imi)rint  uncommon. 
And  bad  with  the  tongue ;  she  was  goin  a-callin 
Sally  Behind,  for  the  way  she  was  f^illin 
Abaft  of  her  midships  :  Manx?  yes,  Manx, 
For  all  hur  married  name  was  Banks — 
Brew's  sister — and  the  talk  that  was  there  ! 
.\nd  the  I'azon  comin  home  from  the  fair 
And  as  drunk  !  aw  bless  ye  !  as  drunk  as  rosin  ' — 
That  was  the  aunt.     "  He  wasn  !  he  wasn  !  " 
Says  Nessy,  "  no  such  a  thing  !  " — •'  And  how 

'  Rc»in  (probably  an  allusion  to  the  convivial  habits  of  fiddlers). 


THE  MANX  WITCH  15 

Do  you  know  ?  "  says  the  aunt ;  aw  then  the  row  ! 
My  gough  !  they  went  at  it ! 

But  Jemmy  Brew 
Was  smiHn  there,  and  "  Hush  then  !  shoo  !  " 
He  says  ;  and  "  Here's  a  chap  with  brains — 
What's  your  opinion,  Thomas  Baynes  ?  " 
"  My  opinion,"  says  I,  "  it's  aisy  given — 
If  ever  there  was  an  angel  in  heaven, 
It's  Pazon  Gale.     Did  ye  ever  hear," 
Says  I,  "  of  angels  the  wuss  for  beer  ? 
Gerr^  out !  "  I  says,  "  I  know  his  trim, 
If  you  don't,  and  I'll  fight  for  him, 
I'll  die  for  him,  I'll  be  cut  in  pieces. 
And  fifty  aunts,  nor  fifty  nieces 

But — as'in  your  pardon,  Nessy,"  I  says, 
"  You've  tuk  his  part — all  right !  success 
To  the  handsome  gel  you  allis  were. 

Aye,  and  gennal but  that  woman  there," 

I  says,  "  I  think  she'd  better  be  cookin 
Her  own  mate,"  I  says,  "and  lookin 
To  herself  a  bit  both  before  and  behind  her — 
■"■  Get.  -  Genial,  kindly. 


,6  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  look  slippy,"  I  says,  just  a  lill  reminder, 

A  sort  of  a  dig  d'ye  see  ?  woahup  ! 

Look  out  for  squalls  !     My  gough  !     She  up 

With  a  clout,  and  made  a  drive  that  vicious 

She  didn  strike  me,  hut  she  knocked  two  dishes 

And  a  pazil '  of  plates  there  off  the  dresser ; 

And  the  niece  to  shout  whatavar  d possess  her 

To  do  such  j eel  with  the  crockery 

Of  other  people — very  free^ 

Very — and  batthar  remember  the  cost — 

And  it  7i>asn  her  house — 

And  no  more  it  was ; 
For  she  lived  in  a  thalthan  -  up  the  river 
Belongin  to  13rew  that  wouldn  have  her 
In  the  house  with  him  at  all — no,  he  wudn ! 
Not  even  when  the  wife  died,  which  died  very  sudden, 
And  Xessy  only  a  child — no,  no ! 
So  I  thought  it  was  just  about  time  to  go — 
I5ut  I  stood  for  the  I'azon — aw,  cut  and  thrust ! 
Ye  sec,  I  was  lovin  him  scandalous — 
Aye  and  i'vtrvl)f)dy — and  no  thanks  ! 
Only  thib  (  laylliur — this  Mrs.  1  tanks — 

'  Parcel.  "  I  lalf-ruincd  cottage. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  17 

She  didn  love  him,  and  she  didn  hate  him, 
And  she  knew  she  couldn  aggravate  him 
No  more  till  a  magpie,  or  a  sparrer — 
But  just  the  dirty  tongue  that  was  arrer  ^ — 
A  miser'ble  thing,  that  deserved  to  be  skelpit — 
Only  it's  lek  she  couldn  help  it. 

Now  what  d'ye  think  this  Nessy  had  done 
That  Hollantide  night,  the  time  she  run 
And  left  the  Pazon  ?     There  was  one  of  these  parties 
She  never  seen,  for,  behould  ye  !  my  hearties 
Tuk  diffrin  roads,  the  one  to  the  shore. 
And  the  one  to  the  mountain  above  Slieu-Core. 
So  Nessy  happened  on  the  track 
Of  the  mountain  beauty — and  that  was  Jack — 
Jack  Pentreath — aw  Manx  thallure  ^ — 
But  his  father  was  Cornish  to  be  sure — 
Neddy  St.  Ives  they  were  callin  the  father. 
But  Jack — aw  Jack — that  was  flighty  rather — 
Jack  Pentreath — well,  no,  I'll  not  say 
Flighty  either ;   but  ye  see  the  way 
It  was — but  hould  on,  you'll  hear,  you'll  hear. 

^  At  her,  was  hers.  -  Enough. 

C 


i8  THE  MANX  WITCH 

The  other  chap  was  Harry  Creer — 

From  Dalby  he  came,  and  so  he  was  gettin  ^ 

"  Harry  from  l)all)y." 

AN'ell,  Jack  was  sweatin 
Up  the  mountain,  and  a  hullabaloo, 
And  a  quiv'rin  and  shoutin  what  would  he  do. 
And  'ichere  7i.<as  this  villyan  1  and—"  Aisy  !  aisy  !  " 
Says  Nessy  to  him,  "you  needn  go  crazy — 
Come,"  she  says.     "  And  will  you  go  linkin 
With  me?"  says  Jack.     "Aw  well  I'm  thinkin 
I'd  better,"  says  Nessy;  '"  iiU  be  more  safer," 
And  offs  with  him — aw  as  tight  as  a  wafer — 
Poor  Jack  !  but  the  plazed,  and  the  tittle-tattle, 
And  studdied  hisself.      For  they'd  had  a  battle 
Who'd  she  link  with  ?   and  wouldn  take  rest, 
And  round  and  round  like  compasses — 
And  her  goin  duckin  under  their  arms — 
Aw  bless  ye  !  trust  these  lill  -  madarms  ! 
(Lill  she  wx^r\\ — nml  thrn  they'd  got  gript 
Like  liic  very  ucuce,  and  Nessy  slipt 
To  one  side,  and  them  two  kissin  like  mad. 
Till  they  found  by  the  whisker  who  tliey  had — 

•J  Little. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  19 

And  then — hurroose  ! 

But  as  nice  you  navar 
Now — aw  dear  !  and  leadin  him  clavar 
Down  a  lane  by  the  Ballacrie, 
Just  to  dodge  the  Pazon — aye — 
That's  it,  man — Sithee  !  (these  cotton-balls  ^)  sithee  !  - 
And  comin  out  at  Lewin's  smithy, 
And  heard  the  gig,  and  "come  !  "  and  besaechin, 
And  dragged  him  in  there  to  the  praechin 
That  was  in  the  chapel — 

Aw  a  nice  pair ! 
And  the  people  gave  a  terble  stare — 
But  Jack  was  like  a  cherubim — 
That  happy — but  had  to  be  hoult  in  the  hymn 
At  ^  Nessy — aye  :  and  the  Pazon  druv 
Past  all  right.     And  then  to  shove 
This  Jack  to  the  door,  that  was  smellin  of  gin, 
And  makin  faces  astonishin, 
And   the   light   in   his    eyes  —  aw   she    stuck   to   the 

chap, 
And  whenever  they  heard  the  Pazon's  trap, 

^  As  these  factory  hands  from  Lancashire  say. 
-  Seest  thou.  ^  By. 


20  THE  MANX  WITCH 

They  tuk  for  the  hedge,  or  wherever  they  cud, 
And  got  him  home — intarmined  ^  she  wud — 
Intarmined. 

ltd  be  on  the  stroke  of  three 
When  they  fetched  his  lodgin — not  a  light  to  see, 
Nor  nothin,  and  all  of  them  in  bed  ; 
Hut  a-side  of  the  house  a  little  shed, 
For  tools  and  the  lek,  and  not  even  a  door  in. 
And  just  a  push,  and  left  him  snoorin ; 
And  home,  and  the  father  in  bed  since  seven. 
And  thinkin  she  wouldn  be  after  eleven, 
Ikit  was  for  all ;  hut  navar  knew — 
Aw  an  aisy  ould  chap  was  Jemmy  Ikcw. 

Well  now,  111  tell  you  about  Harry  and  Jack — 
Aw,  daccnt  fellows,  that's  a  fact. 
Jack  was  lill,  and  Harry  was  big, 
And  sometimes  takin  a  hearty  swig, 
I  tell  ye,  but  dacent  fellows  enough. 
Harry  was  tall,  but  Ja(  k  was  tough  ; 
Jack  was  just  like  pin  wire. 
Jack  was  just  like  made  of  fire, 

'  I'Llcrmincil. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  21 

Lean  and  supple,  hard  as  a  rock, 

A  reg'lar  little  fightin  cock. 

Harry's  hair  was  just  like  tow, 

Jack's  was  as  black  as  the  wing  of  a  crow, 

Jack  was  sallow  and  dark  o'  the  skin, 

Harry  was  red  astonishin — 

Red  though,  red  :  so  that  was  the  pair, 

Jack  Pentreath  and  Harry  Creer, 

Now  red  or  yellow,  blue  or  black, 
A  passionater  fellow  till  Jack 
There  couldn  ha'  been — aw  desperate  ! 
He'd  have  it  out,  he  wouldn  wait — 
He'd  have  it  out  whatever  it  was — 
Have  it  out — no  lip  nor  sauce 
Would  do  for  Jack,  no  chiffin  nor  chaffin  ; 
Navar  bothered  much  with  laughin 
Didn  Jack — a  word  and  a  blow — 
Terrible  in  earnest  though, 
Perseverin,  if  you'll  understand — 
Jack  was  like  two  dogs  in  one, 
The  dog  to  hunt,  and  the  dog  to  fight ; 
But  still  he  wasn  takin  delight 


2  THE  MANX  WITCH 

In  fightin — no  ;  nor  wantin  to  be 
Cock-o'-the-mine — 

Stay — let  me  see — 

Did  I  tell  you  they  were  miners?  no? 

Miners,  miners,  just  so — 

Miners  the  two  of  them — Laxdale  mines, 

That's  countin  terble  ^  for  the  finds, 

And  the  Ijig  wheel  yandhar.     But,  however, 

Jack  could  work  the  fisses  clever. 

Harry  wasn  no  match  for  him, 

For  all  the  big  of  body  and  limb, 

Harry  'd  fight  of  coorse,  if  he  had  to, 

Uut  I  don't  suppose  he  was  very  glad  to. 

But  Jack,  ye  see,  if  he  had  a  desire 
To  anything,  he  was  nolhin  but  fire 
And  rage  and  fury — my  gough,  the  sperrit  ! 
.\nd  wouldn  give  in  afore  he'd  gcrrit " — 
Wouldn  !  mortal  uncomfiblc 
To  have  daelins  with  the  Ick,  for  they  will, 
.\nd  they  will  and  they  will,  and  it  isn  no  use ; 
(Jan't  help  it,  it's  kk,  hoiildin  on  like  the  deuce ; 

'  Accounted  excellent.  ^  Get  it. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  23 

Like  these  bull-dogs,  when  once  they're  gript  the  teeth, 
There's  nothin  '11  slacken  them  only  death. 

Uncomfible  they  are  though,  shockin, 
And  so  is  a  bull-dog,  takin  and  lockin 
His  jaw  like  a  vice.     And  special  ^  gels — 
They  can't  be  thinkin  of  nothin  else 
Night  or  day,  the  whole  of  the  world 
Is  nothin  but  her,  and  the  head  goes  whirl, 
And  the  heart  like  a  burnin  fiery  furnace — 
That's  the  chaps  that  is  in  earnest, 
And  no  matter  the  why  and  no  matter  the  fur  ^ 
It's  her  and  her  and  her  and  her — 
Her  they  must  have— they  must,  they  must. 
And  all  the  rest  is  only  dust 
And  dirt.     And  the  same  for  everything — 
An  oar,  a  pick— but  fay  males  !  by  jing ! 
Faymales  !  aw,  bless  ye  !  simply  crazy — 
That's  it — nor  they  can't  nor  they  won't  take  it  aisy. 

Now  Harry  was  a  hearty  lad. 
But  terble  hard  to  make  him  mad 
About  the  lek  :  he  liked  a  gel — 

1  Especially.  "  For,  wherefore. 


THE   MANX  WITCH 

Very  well — vcr)'  well — 

Liked  her — certainly  ;  but  if  he  got  vexed, 

Or  bothered,  you  know,  just  on  to  the  next — 

That  was  Harry — much  the  same 

Whatever  happened — a  sort  of  craem 

These  chaps  has  got  for  blood  :  it's  cool 

And  sweet  and  that,  and,  of  a  rule. 

It's  not  aisy  put  out,  but — liquor — well. 

Of  coorse,  of  coorse.     I  could  hardly  tell 

Mad  Jack  any  blood  in  him,  l)ut  when 

The  craythur  was  a-fightin,  and  then 

He  had  plenty  of  it  and  to  spare. 

But  difficult  to  say  the  where 

It  was  stowed  at  him.       Harry  s  was  in  his  face, 

All  over  him  was  Harry's  case. 

Aye,  but  Jack — aw,  none  of  your  blubber 
At  Jack.  nf)t  him — just  Indian-rubber 
All  C)\<.i,  .lu,  a  i)ird  of  the  game, 
None  of  your  buttermilk,  none  of  your  craem, 
Dry,  man,  dr)'— and  the  springy  hipped, 
The  reg'lar  whalebone !     See  him  stripped  ! 
T!>  It  u  .s  the  thing— aw,  belly  or  bark  ! 


THE  MANX  WITCH  25 

See  him  stripped,  and  there  was  Jack. 
He  was  raelly  awful,  a  sort  of  a  shine 

Like  shells,  like aw  it's  no  use  try'n — 

Comin  off  him lek  a  kind  o'  brassy — 

Lek  these  yallar  images,  aye  was  he. 

Lek  the  blood,  ye  see,  was  a  sort  of  a  venom, 

Or  varnish,  or  vitriol  that  was  in  him. 

Quick  though,  quick — for  Harry  would  swing 

His  arms  like  a  windmill,  but  Jack  would  spring 

Like  a  goose's  merry-thought,  and  at  ye  he'd  come 

Like  a  dart,  like  a  wasp,  like  a  rocket  by  gum  ! 

So  there  was  two  of  Miss  Nessy's  beaux — 
Miners,  I  tould  ye — but  goodness  knows 
The  chaps  that  was  after  yandhar  gel — 
Respectable  ?  respectable ! 
I  should  think  so — respectable  is  it  ? 
Eiras,^  bless  ye  !  would  be  payin  their  visit 
To  the  Ballaquine — yes,  eiras,  drapers 
From  Dhoolish,  bless  ye  !  with  their  capers, 
Foremen,  overseers,  a  cap'n, 
Loadin  there  on  the  beach,  would  drap  in 
Now  and  then — I've  seen  the  lek. 

^  Heirs. 


26  THE  MANX   WITCH 

But,  just  azackly  the  way  you'll  expeck, 
The  young  miners  it  was  that  was  schamin 
To  get  this  Nessy ;  just  like  chimin 
She  belonged  to  them  whocver'd  be 
The  lucky  chap — lek  proppity, 

Lek  shares,  lek swore  together  to  watch 

That  none  of  these  dandy  divils  'd  snatch 

The  prize,  the  beauty  of  Ballaquine, 

This  rose  that  had  grew  at  the  f/iouth  of  the  mine. 

That  was  their  talk.     And  a  sort  of  a  club, 
Or  a  saycret  'ciety,  and  hul)-and-nub, 
And  sentries  just  lek  souldiers  placin. 
And  takin  their  turn  of  a  Sunday  facin 
The  chapel,  and  up  the  road,  and  grips, 
And  officers,  and  passes — "  Lips  " 
Was  the  word,  I  believe,  and  the  countcrword — 
Well,  I  forget ;  but  still  I've  heard — 

But — Lips — that's  Nessy — the  mouth  ?  just  so- 
Like  a  pudeck  ^  rose  in  the  full  blow — 
Eyes,  of  coorse,  and  ni(  e  they  were — 
Blue — )«.>,  blue;  but  the  most  that  was  there, 

'   I'crfcct. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  27 

I  tell  ye,  couldn  see  nothin  but  just 
The  mouth.     It  wasn  a  sort  of  a  puss,^ 
Puckered  and  quilted  and  hemmed  and  hitched 
And  gored  and  eylotted  and  stitched — 

Plenty  of  it reefs  and  reefs, 

And  more  to  come ;  and  then  the  teefs  ^ 
All  set  round — aw  I'll  be  bail 
Drew  to  scale,  drew  to  scale — 

The  mouth  she  had aw,  hit  or  miss, 

For  all  the  world  like  a  big  red  kiss. 

So  these  chaps  was  jealous  you  navar  seen. 
And  had  her  for  a  sort  of  a  queen  ; 
But  every  miner  to  have  his  chance, 
And  whichever  she'd  chose,  the  rest  at  once 
To  give  in,  resign  her,  they  said,  resign  her ; 
But  only  she  must  marry  a  miner. 

Aw  many's  the  blade  has  been  tuk  and  ducked 
In  the  big  dam  yandhar,  or  clouted  and  mucked. 
And  all  his  fine  clothes  a-soakin  like  runnet,^ 
And  navar  the  wiser  who  was  it  that  done  it ; 

1  Purse.  2  Teeth.  ^  Rennet. 


28  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Aye,  and  caught  in  the  dark,  and  pounded 

At  these  divils,  and  navar  the  one  of  them  rounded 

Upon  the  others — aw  true  as  wedges, 

And  huntin  these  drapers  over  the  hedges, 

And  sthoo'd  ^  a  chap  by  the  name  of  Jones 

Ever)'  step  to  the  Cloven  Stones. 

Was  I  in  it?  ho-ho-ho  ! 
Sailors  and  miners — bless  ye — no  ! 
Wouldn  ha'  had  me,  couldn  neither — 
DifTcrn  cattle  altogether, 
Rovin  divils  sailors  is, 
Navar  much  in  the  one  place  : 
Besides  these  miners  is  more  of  a  clan, 
Keepin  more  on  the  one  liand  ; 
And  I  rouldn  for  sartin  allis  agree  with  them. 
But  aisy  enough  for  th'  *  get  on  the  spree  with  them- 
Rathcr  too  aisy,  for  the  matter  of  that ; 
But  every  hatter  his  own  hat, 
And  every  trade  its  own  tricks, 
And  its  own  saycrets — nix  is  nix, 
\VhcT'V'  r  \  ..ii"l!  be. 

'  Chased  (wiih  opprobrious  shouting).  -  To, 


THE  MANX  WITCH  29 

But,  houldin  their  own, 

There  they  had  me the  rose  that  had  grown 

At  the  mouth  of  their  mine and  chaps  to  be  comin 

Sniffin  and  snuffin  hke  bumbees  hummin 

Around  their  rose — ■ —  it  isn  raison, 

And  it  isn  sense — the  same  with  grazin 

On  the  commons,  the  same  with  fishin-ground, 

The  same  with  everything ;  and  you're  bound 

To  stick  to  it  too.     And  a  gel  Hke  Nessy — 

Dear  me  !  if  it  was  Dick  Quayle-vessy,^ 

He's  yours  for  all ;  look  after  the  lek — 

"  Cair  !"-  cair  !  "  says  Billy  Injebrek. 

But  a  splendid  gel  like  Nessy — chut  I 

It's  nothin  but  reg'lar  poachin  :  "  Cut !  " 

Says  you  to  this  draper  from  Dhoolish,  "be  off! 

You  Ramsey  sneak."     You'd  be  middlin  soft 

If  you  didn — to  let  them  gather  your  rose 

That  handy  from  under  your  very  nose  ! 

"She's  ours,"  you'd  say,  "and  we  mean  to  keep  her." 

If  he  stands  to  it,  hit  him  a  tap  on  the  peeper — 

They're  not  much  these  dandies — down  with  the  fut ! 

"  Cut !  "  says  you,  and  by  gough  they'll  cut. 

1  A  notorious  idiot.  "  Property. 


30  THE  MANX  WITCH 

So  that's  the  way  they'd  all  combine 
For  the  honour  and  glory  of  the  mine. 
Supposin  she  didn  marry  the  one  o'  them 
All  right,  all  right !  still  every  man  o'  them 
Had  had  his  chance,  and  equally 
She  wouldn  be  marryin  nobody. 

Friday  is  pay-day  :  one  Saturday 
I  was  in  at  Callow's  as  you  may  say, 
Lek  a  little  sociable  or  that ; 
And  a  hape  of  miners ;  and  there  they  sat 
Like  a  Quakers'  meetin,  no  talkin,  no  laughin. 
Not  the  smallest  taste  of  chaftin, 
Till  all  of  them  w-as  in  the  room. 
Bless  my  sowl !  a  sort  of  a  gloom 
Over  the  lot.     It'd  be  very  near 
A  week  or  so  after  Ilollantide  fccr, 
And  every  chap,  as  he  tuk  his  i)lace 
On  the  settle  or  that,  you'd  see  the  rest 
Lift  up  their  eye  as  solium  though, 
Lek  axin  ;  and  him  with  a  sort  of  a  no^ 
And  a  shake  of  the  liead,  and  out  wiili  his  clay, 
.\nd  charges  and  sucks  and  draws  away. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  31 

I  was  noticin ;  and  Jack,  d'ye  see, 
Come  in,  and  the  shake  accordantly ; 
And  Harry  last ;  and  the  whole  of  them  lookin. 
But  Harry  had  a  pipe  arrim  ^  smookin, 
And  navar  no  shake  o'  the  head  they'd  get. 
But  just  a  little  sort  of  a  spit 
At  2  Harry. 

Now  it  appears  they  were  signin 
Articles — I  think  there  was  nine  in — 
Rules,  is  it  ?  I  don't  care — 
Rules  then — that  they'd  run  it  fair ; 
No  chap  to  take  advantage  lek 
Over  the  rest ;  and  the  smallest  speck 
Lek  it  would  be  of  encouragement — 
Lek  a  word,  or  a  nod — then  this  here  gent 
To  kermoonicate  it  to  the  lot 
Under  penalties  to  be  shot, 
For  all  I  know,  or  hung  as  high 
As  Haman,  if  he  tould  a  lie. 

Honour  bright !  I  seen  the  book 
Years  after,  and  even  a  look 

1  At  him.  -  On  the  part  of. 


32  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Was  down,  and  how  much  was  countin  for  it, 
'Longside  the  name  of  the  chap  that  gorrit  ^ — 

Somcthin  Hke Jeremiah  AN'ilde — 

Looked  at  him  in  the  chapel,  and  smiled — 
Two  marks  ;  Dick  Clucas  passin  the  farrim,- 
And  Nessy  hove  a  priddha  '  arrim/ 

One  mark  and  a  half Nathaniel  Fathom — 

Nessy  held  the  hymn-book  with  him 
Last  Sunday,  countin  seven  marks — 
Lek  that  ye  know — aw  dear,  the  larks  ! 
Nonsense  you're  thinkin  ?     Aw,  Ick  enough  ! 
But  I  hardly  think  ye  know  the  stuff 
Them  Laxdale  chaps  is  made  of,  no — 
Curious  very,  treminjis  though. 

Now  it  wasn  a  mectin  they  had  at  all. 
I.ck  they're  callin  it  special ;^(ncrnl, 
r)f  the  'ciety,  but  just  drop  in 
Anybody,  and  yarns  to  spin 
And  talk  to  talk.     So  Harry  Creer 
Wasn  bound  to  tell  ihcm  thecr 
Why  he  didn  shake  the  head, 

'  Got  it.  '  I-"arm.  *  Potato.  *  \\.  him. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  33 

Lek  meanin  nothin  done  or  said 

At  ^  Nessy  to  him  that  week,  you  know, 

But  Jack  was  feelin  dreadful  low, 

For  Nessy  had  spoke  to  him  sure  enough, 

But  terble  savage,  terble  rough, 

And  the  dirty  turn-out  ^  and  sent  him  flyin. 

And  he  must  never  come  near  the  Ballaquine — 

"  Ye  nasty  thing  !  you're  not  fit. 

You're  no  better  till  a  ideit !  " 

So  Jack  was  mad,  and  "  Come  out !  "  he  says — 
And  terble  winkin  at  the  rest — 
"  Come  out !  "  he  says,  and  as  grim  as  grim  ; 
So  out  they  went,  Harry  and  him. 
Aw  dear !  when  he  had  him  out  on  the  street 
The  row  that  was  at  them !  I  didn  see't 
Nor  nobody,  but  Harry  was  tellin — 
"  What's  this  ?  "  he  says,  "  what's  this,  ye  villain  ?  " 
And  a  grip  of  his  throat,  houldin  on  like  a  ferret. 
"  That's  not  azackly  the  way  to  gerrit,"  ^ 
Says  Harry,  chokin.     "  Let  go  !  let  go  !  " 
He  slackened  a  bit,  but  very  slow — 

^  By.  2  Repulse,  snubbing.  ^  Get  it. 

D 


34  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Greedy  lek — "  It  wasn  much," 

Says  Harry,  "  bless  your  sow! !  don't  clutch 

Like  yandhar — only  a  handful  of  gravel 

I  hove  in  the  window."— "The  devil !  the  devil !  " 

Says  Jack — "  you  hove — and — well  then,  well ! 

She  come,  she  come — aw  it's  aisy  to  tell," 

And  begun  a  cryin.     "  She  come,"  says  Harrj', 

"  Yes,  she  come,  but  she  didn  tarry ; 

'  Harry  Crccr,'  she  says,  '  the  sot,' 

And  down  with  the  window  like  a  shot." 

"  Aw  Harry,  Harry  ! "  and  grips  his  hand, 

"  Harry,  Harry,  Harry  man  !  " 

And — "  Harry,  you're  a  friend  of  mine ; 

Keep  away  from  the  Ikillaquinc, 

Aw  do,  la  !  ^  do  !  aw  yes  !  aw  dear  ! 

You're  not  lovin  her,  Harry  Creer  ! 

Harry,  Harry  !  just  only  the  pride, 

And  Ick  not  likin  to  be  put  o'  one  side 

When  all  the  chaps  is  sportin  their  figures — 

Of  coorse,  of  coorse ;  it's  not  the  biggerst 

That's  lovin  the  most,  you  know  it's  not, 

Harry,  you  know  !  aw  promise  to'l ! 

'  Interjection  of  cntrcity. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  35 

Promise  ! "  and  Harry  half  willin  there — 

A  good-natured  sowl.     But — "  Swear  it !  swear  ! 

Swear,  Harry  ! "  and  an  oath  Hke  your  arm 

For  the  long,  most  despard,  like  some  charm 

At  these  wutches,  awful !     "  Liver  and  lights  " — 

Lek  cussin  all  his  odd  jints — 

Till  Harry  got  freckened  altogether ; 

But  he  didn  like  to  deny  him  either — 

"With  blood,"  says  Jack,  "with  blood,  with  blood  !" 

And  out  with  the  knife. 

But  Harry  stood 
Again  the  notion  very  stiff, 
And — No,  and  he  didn't  Hke.     "  Your  shift," 
Says  Jack  like  lightnin,  the  quick  he  was — 
But  Harry  gettin  rather  cross — 
"  Will  you  change  your  shift  with  Tommy  Mawby  ?  " 
"  Well,  what  for  ?  "  says  Harry  from  Dalby. 
"  What  for  ?  "  says  Harry — stupid  rather. 
"  Because  we'll  be  up  and  down  together, 
And  then  I'll  know  where  you  are,"  says  Jack ; 
Aw  as  straight  as  straight ;  no  keepin  back. 
No  sneakin  hoky-poky  ways 
With  yandhar  fellow,  if  you  plaze. 


36  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Semple,  you're  thinkin  ?  that  may  be, — 
Love  is  just  semplicity — 
Real  love,  of  coorse — chat  !  ^ 
Semplicity  !  why,  bless  ye  !  that 
Is  love,  is,  is,  is,  is,  or  oughter — 
Is  fire  semple  ?  is  air  ?  is  water  ? 
SetfiJ)ie  ?     "  Sincere,"  the  Pazon  was  sayin — 
Sincerity — oh,  isn  it  plain  ? 

One  thought,  one  thought — aw,  through  and  through, 
One  in  her,  and  one  in  you — 
Semple,  single — isn  it  clear  ? 
Nothin  else  but  just  sincere — 
A  great  word  with  the  V:\7.ox\— foolishness  ? 
No,  no,  my  lads !  it's  the  best  thing,  the  best, 
It's  the  only  thing,  just  the  one  bright  flash 
That  (juivcrs  through  this  world  of  trash 
And  make-believe  ;  it's  swift,  it's  short, 
It's  gone — and  we're  all  the  better  for't. 
Aye,  and  the  wiser — couldn  stay  long, 
Not  like  that — you  need  to  be  young 
To  work  that  horse-power,  mind  ye,  my  men  ! 
Aw  yes,  you  can  love  again, 

'  Tut. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  ll 

But  not  like  that — it's  only  the  once — 
Aw  give  it  a  chance  !  give  it  a  chance  ! 
One  wave  flung  in  upon  the  shore, 
That  bursts  and  breaks  for  evermore. 

So  none  of  your  humbug,  backin  and  fiUin, 
But  just  straight  off—  Would  Harry  be  willin 
To  work,  you  know,  on  the  shift  with  him, 
And  then  it  would  be  the  same  trim  ^ 
For  the  two  of  them  ?     "  What !  navar  free 
To  go  by  myself?"  says  Henery, 
"  And  try  my  luck  !  lek  fastenin  us 
Together  like  dogs  " — and  he  gev  a  cuss — 
"  I  won't,"  he  says. 

Aw  Jack  made  a  run. 
And  caught  him,  and  gript  him,  and  cryin  like  fun, 
And  beggin  him  for  God's  sake. 
And  the  tears  !  the  tears  !  like  urrov "  a  lake — 
Aw  the  slush  of  tears — "  Harry,  Harry  !  " 
A  nice  chap  for  the  gel  to  marry  ! 
The  tears  then,  is  it  the  tears  ye  mane  ? 
The  tears — yes,  yes,  but  comin  like  rain — 

1  Conditions.  "  Out  of. 


38  THE  MANX  WITCH 

There's  everything  in  tears — of  coorse  ! 

Look  at  the  pressure,  look  at  the  force  ! 

Shallow  water  ?  go  to  pot ! 

There's  shallow  water,  and  there's  water  that's  not 

Pumpin  !  says  you  ;  tlicrc's  some  people  can, 

But  the  tears  of  a  man  that  is  a  man 

Is  wantin  no  pumpin,  nor  no  tap,  nor  no  cock, 

I  know  I've  got  to  the  real  rock 

\Vhcn  I  sec  the  lek.     Vou  may  grin  like  apes. 

You  may  squeeze  your  face  in  a  thousand  shapes, 

You  may  smooth  it  till  it's  like  pin-janc,' 

But  the  tears,  the  tears  that  comes  like  rain — 

Then  you  have  him — see  !  he's  cryin  ! 

That's  the  chap  I  aw  there's  no  denyin. 

And  childhcr — is  it  only  pushin 
Their  finger  that  makes  the  tears  come  rushin 
Till  they're  nothin  hut  tears,  just  a  livin  spout? 
It's  because  they're  turnin  inside  out 
Easier  till  grown-up  people,  being  pli'ble. 
Aye — but  us  that's  ouldher  is  li'ble 
To  get  hard  and  stiff,  or  else  all  llabhy, 

'  Curds-and-whc-y. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  39 

Just  a  miser'ble  sort  of  drabby,^ 

Lek  feelin  nothin,  or  seemin  we  didn, 

Like  an  ould  boot  upon  a  midden. 

God  bless  the  childher  !   God  bless  their  wayses  ! 

They're  spinnin  no  cobwebs  before  their  faces — 

Not  much  like  spiders  isn  them — 

Yandhar  David  too  the  same, 

In  the  Bible  you've  got  him,  like  it  appears— 

Aw  David  was  the  boy  for  tears  ! 

I  don't  hould  no  more  till  you 
With  allis  cryin,  boo-boo-boo  ! 
Shlishin-slushin,  snittle-snottle ; 
But  "  Put  my  tears  in  thy  bottle," 
Says  David,  "thy  bottle,"  lek  God,  it's  meant. 
Had  a  bottle  arrim,"  lek  fillin  with  scent, 
And  like  enough  a  goold  stopper — 
Aw  beautiful !  but  must  be  a  whopper 
To  hould  all  the  tears— a  sort  of  decanter, 
Lek  silver-mounted— but  I  wouldn  vanture 
To  say  it  was  really  that,  but  just 
To  give  you  a  notion,  the  way  we  must 

1  Droppy.  '  At  him,  in  his  possession. 


40  THE   MANX  WITCH 

With  the  lek,  of  coorse,  bein  what  ye  may  call — 
Aye,  man,  aye — but  aisy  all  I 

So  Harry  couldn  stand  this  cry'n, 

And  promised  there,  but  he  wouldn  sign 

In  blood,  no,  no  I      "  It's  usual  done," 

Says  Jack,  but  didn  see  the  fun, 

Didn  Harry,  but  just  to  be 

On  the  same  shift,  and  glad  to  get  free 

Of  this  chap  and  all  his  hollabaloo — 

A  day  shift  it  was  too, 

Comin  off  about  five  in  the  everin, 

And  washed,  I  tell  ye,  and  as  nate  as  a  pin, 

And  no  hurry  at  all,  but  the  smile  on  the  face, 

And  plenty  of  chaps  about  the  place, 

Souljerin '  there,  but  off  on  the  sly 

One  after  the  other — "  I  think  I'll  try 

Is  the  troutsis  '  bitin,"  they'd  say,  or  hitendin '' 

To  meet  the  coach,  or  had  to  he  mendin 

Something  at  home  ;  and  'd  walk  that  slack, 

And  the  hands  in  the  pockets,  and  the  swing  of  the  back. 

And  the  slink  and  the  slouch.      Hut,  out  ui  sight, 

'  Loafing  about.  '  Trouts.  ■'  I'rL-tcnding. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  41 

Up  to  the  Ballaquine  with  them  straight — 

Hedges  and  ditches  ;  but,  when  they'd  get  near, 

They'd  slack  again — aw  never  fear  ! 

And  standin  and  starin  very  hard 

At  some  oats,  or  some  clover,  or  a  pig  in  the  yard, 

Or — anything  ;  or  lookin  lek  wond'rin 

How  they  come  theer  at  all,  and  blund'rin 

In  on  the  back,  and  in  on  the  front. 

Or  the  barn,  or  the  haggard  ;  ^  and  a  surt  of  a  grunt, 

And  a  heave,  and  a  start,  lek  "  Bless  my  sowl ! 

Is  this  the  Ballaquine  ?  "     And  'd  rowl 

Their  eyes  most  terble,  and  amazin  to  meet 

The  lot  of  them  theer  upon  the  street. 

And  the  nudgin  and  shovin  there'd  be  in 
For  one  of  them  to  make  a  begin 
And  talk  to  the  gel ;  and  whichever  spoke, 
One  of  the  chaps  'd  gev  a  poke 
To  another,  and  then  the  lot  'd  buss 
Out  a  laughin,  and  Nessy  would  puss 
Her  mouth,  and  give  a  little  shy 
With  her  head  ;  and  another  chap  'd  try, 

^  Stackyard. 


42  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  then  the  roor,  and  "  Woa,  man,  woa  ! " 
And  "  He-he-he,"  and  "  Ho-ho-ho  !  " 

Miners  1     Miners!  sartinly  not ; 
Miners — they're  another  lot ; 
Miners'  sooreyin  ' — aw  ye  needn  doubt  it  I 
They  goes  another  way  about  it, 
Does  miners,  aye,  bein  chaps  that  way, 
That's  rather  for  turnin  night  into  day — 
Down  in  the  mines — the  way  you'd  expeck — 
Fond  of  the  dark,  and  used  of  the  lek, 
Suckin  it  just  like  li(iuorice-ball, 
They  can't  take  up  with  the  dayUght  at  all. 

I've  heard  of  people  born  in  a  mine. 
Poor  divils  !  aw  just  as  good  as  blind — 
At  laste  they  got  no  eyes  to  spake  of, 
Just  a  little  bit  of  a  strake  of 
Light,  like  a  groove,  like  a  seam,  like  a  slit, 
Livin  and  dyin  in  the  pit — 
That's  England — that's  these  "  lower  urdhcrs  "  -- 
A  despard  country,  full  of  murders — 

'  Courting.  '  Orders. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  43 

But  coals,  of  coorse,  most  horrid  dirty, 
And  iron  very  near  as  clarty.^ 

Aye  ;  but  in  the  Isle  of  Man 
It's  lead  that's  goin,  you'll  understand — 
And  a  dale  claner  to  work  it  is, 
A  dale  claner — aw  'deed  yis  ! 
Claner — but  still  they  had  to  clane — 
Sartinly — you  know  what  I  mane — 
Titivatin — "  In  the  dark  ?  "  says  you, 
Lek  you're  thinkin  the  differ  wouldn  be  knew?'^ 
Nonsense  !  where's  a  fellow's  pluck 
To  coort,  if  he's  feelin  all  of  a  muck. 
And  sticky  and  sweaty — no,  la  !  no  ! 
A  nice  clean  shirt  and  a  collar  though — 
It's  what  you're  feelin,  not  what  you're  lookin. 
That's  the  style,  or  you'd  better  be  hookin. 

And  sure  enough  it's  dark  they  hev  ^  it 
Often  enough  ;  but  as  right  as  a  trevit. 
And  comfible  that  way  in  your  clothes — 
Aw  it's  doin  a  dale,  and  goodness  knows 
Why,  but  it  does;  and  maybe  two'n 
^  Filthy.  ^  The  difference  would  not  be  known.  ^  Have. 


44  THE   MANX   WITCH 

The  mornin  at  ye,  a  big  strong  moon 
11  swim  out  of  a  cloud,  and  you  to  stand  there 
Lookin  up,  and  her  in  the  wandhar 
Lookin  down — and  you  like  her  to  see 
Vour  face  as  bright  as  a  thingummagee, 
And  your  handkecher,  and  all  to  that, 
Nate,  man,  nate,  and  a  cock  on  your  hat, 
Like  a  surt  of  a  buck ;  and  look  at  her — 
The  clane  she  is,  and  the  tickelar. 

Bless  ye  !  don't  I  know  the  lek  ? 
And  the  little  shiver,  and  wrappin  the  neck, 
And  lookin  at  the  moon  and  sigh'n, 
And  whisp'rin — aw  the  Ballaquine 
W'asn  the  only  place,  d'ye  hear — 
Not  it !  not  it !  aw  dear !  aw  dear  ! 
Strainin  out  through  honeysuckles, 
Or  ivy,  and  her  hair  in  buckles 
Of  coils  and  coils  ;  and  her  body  stretchin 
Lek  far  away,  lek  longin,  lek  retchin 
To  heaven  itself,  lek  tuk  and  caught 
At '  some  angel — and  even  you  forgot — 

'  Ky. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  45 

Yis,  and  then  a  sniff  and  a  sniggle, 

And  just  the  smallest  taste  of  a  giggle 

Lek — bless  my  sowl !  you'd  think  it  was  sporras 

In  the  thatch  beginnin  their  little  good-morrows. 

And  then  the  coolin  of  the  mornin  air, 
And  things  goin  a  seein  everywhere, 
And  the  crow  of  the  cock,  and  the  stir  of  the  cows, 
And  the  dead  white  light  on  the  front  of  the  house — 
Aw  they  do'n'  like  that !  aw  no  they  do'n' ! 
Aw  bless  ye  !  it's  just  about  time  to  be  go'n' 
Then ;  but  still  you'll  not  be  off 
Till  she  shuts  the  window ;   and  often  enough 
It'll  be  broad  day  in  the  garden  there, 
And  she'll  see  you,  if  you  can't  see  her. 
So  mind  you'll  be  smart — d'  ye  hear  me,  you  sir  ? 
Just  take  my  word — it'll  be  well  to  do  ser.^ 

Aye,  and  this  Nessy  had  a  way 
That  lots  of  them  has,  to  take  and  stay 
A  bit  behind  a  curtain  or  that — 
Aw,  bless  your  life  !  just  a  bit  of  a  cat 

'  So. 


46  THE   MANX  WITCH 

In  the  whole  of  them — aw,  I'll  allow — 

Lek  seein  how  are  ye  actin  now. 

You  think  her  eye  isn  on  you — take  care ! 

They're  rather  dangerous,  they  are, 

That  way — aye — bein  it's  mornin — 

And  just,  ye  know,  to  see  if  you're  yawnin. 

Or  the  lek  o'  that ;  and  'scusaijle 

If  you  are,  you  know  ;  but  they  navar  will. 

No,  not  them — no  use  !  no  use  of  ye  ! 

Bless  yc  !  they'll  navar  take  excuse  of  ye  ! 

Navar !  navar  !  and  all  the  same 

You  don't  want  to  be  slopin — it's  just  like  a  dhrame ; 

You're  greedy  of  any  chance  she  might  come 

Back  to  the  window — the  way  with  some — 

Back,  and  back.     And  you're  still  as  death, 

And  the  honeysuckles  seems  full  of  her  breath — 

And — yes,  it  is !  and — no,  it  is'n  ! 

She's  gone  !  she's  gone  !  ami  the  sun  is  risen. 

There,  there !  I  couldn  help  it,  my  men — 

Aisy  then  !  aisy  then  ! 

Well  that  was  Jack  and  Harry's  style, 
And  lek  enough  the  best  of  a  mile 


THE  MANX  WITCH  47 

To  the  farm,  but  takin  differin  ways 

Reggilar ;  and  Jack  'd  ha'  erase  ^ 

Mostly  of  Harry,  but  couldn  hinder 

But  the  two  of  them  meetin  under  the  winder. 

Jack  fuss,  and  Harry  to  folia — 

And  Harry  more  like  a  dooiney-moUa  ^ 

For  Jack,  lek  helpin  him  to  woo. 

But  takin  his  turn  at  the  winder  too — 

Aw  honour  bright !  but  not  much,  ye  see. 

To  say  for  himself,  this  Henery — 

Not  him — and  puzzled,  I  doubt. 

Puzzled  enough  to  hould  out 

The  time  that  Jack  was  givin  him — shy, 

And  hum  and  hem,  and  "  Aye,  woman  ?  aye  ?  " 

That  was  the  most  she  got  out  of  Harry — 

Aw,  a  dacent  chap  !  aw  varry  !  varry  ! 

But  'lowanced  of  brain — that's  it !  that's  it ! 

'Lowanced  enough,  and  navar  fit 

For  the  likes  of  her,  that  could  dance  all  round  him 

With  the  tongue,  and  altogether  confound  him — 

And — "x^ye,  woman?  aye?"  till  at  last  she  says — 

^  Would  have  the  start. 
"^  Man-praiser,  the  friend  who  backs,  and  speaks  praisingly  of  the  suitor. 


48  THE   MANX   WITCH 

"  It's  no  use  o'  churnin  away  like  this, 

And  navar  no  butter."     And — "  Come  I  will  ye  talk 

About  JackT'  she  says,  and  he  wouldn  baulk 

The  young  woman  of  coorse.     "  Very  well,"  says  he, 

And  on  al)out  Jack,  and  fiddlededee — 

And  what  did  he  think  of  Jack  1  'was  he  right 

In  his  mind,  did  he  think  7  and  rather  a  flight 

Of  a  craythur — 7vhatl  and  no  doubt  takin  care — 

The  way  she  was  spakin — that  Jack  would  hear — 

And  Jack  nearly  choked  with  the  rage — good  Lord, 

But  bitendin  not  to  hear  a  word. 

And  then  she'd  make  her  note  that  sweet 
And  soft  and  trimblin — it  was  like  the  tweet 
Of  a  young  duck.      .And — Wasn  he  nice 
This  Jack  1 — a7i>  dear  !  and  could n  he  tice 
The  arm  off  a  gel?     And —  Wasn  he  a  love  ? 
And  7vasn  he  a  darlin  1 — and  a  surt  of  a  shove 
With  the  words,  like  arrars '  from  the  quivers, 
Sendin  Jack  in  the  fits  of  shivers. 

And  couldn  stand  it,  poor  fellow,  of  coorse, 
'  Arrows. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  49 

And  rushin  on  Harry,  and  as  hoorse  as  hoorse, 

And  whisp'rin,  "  Look  here  !  the  time  is  up." 

Then  says  Nessy,  "  Suppose  I  want  him  to  stop — 

Time,  indeed  !  whose  time  ?  bad  'cess  ! 

You're  thinkin  a  dale  of  yourself,"  she  says, 

"  It's  for  me,  not  for  you,  to  tell  him  to  go — 

Time  did  ye  say  ?     But  I'll  have  you  to  know." 

And  stoops — and — •"  Listen,  Harry,  will  ye  ? 

I've  got  something  partikkilar  to  tell  ye. 

Jack  musn  hear.     Be  off  with  ye,  Jack, 

To  the  apple-tree,  and  don't  come  back 

Till  I  tell  ye."     The  apple-tree — ^that  was  the  place 

They  had  to  stand,  in  any  case, 

When  their  coortin  was  off,  just  like  it  would  be 

Their  watch  on  deck — aye — the  apple-tree 

"  Apple-tree,  apple-tree, 
Cover  me,  cover  me, 
Branches  of  the  apple-tree  I 
While  night's  shadows  drift  and  flee, 
Fall  on  me,  fall  on  me, 
Blossoms  of  the  apple-tree — 
Pink-tipt  snowflakes  tenderly 
Gliding  from  the  apple-tree  !  " 

Aye,  them's  Tommy's,  Tommy  Big-eyses  ^ — 

•"   See  Fdcsle  Yams. 
E 


50  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Terble  for  rimin — all  surts  and  sizes, 
Tommy,  bless  ye  ! 

But  Brew,  the  father — 
It's  lek  you're  thinkin  it  curious  rather 
He  was  navar  hcarin  them  at  these  games. 
Well,  lizzen  to  me ;  that  man  was  the  same's 
A  pig  for  the  sleepin  and  the  snorin — 
See-saw  !  Margery  Daw  ! 
Roarin,  borin — 

No  starts,  no  snarts  arrim  ' — studdy  he  done  it, 
Studdy  directly  he  begun  it — 
Say  about  half-past-cight  or  that 
Till  maybe  four  in  the  mornin — chat  ! ' 
Yandhar  man  !  you  could  hear  pretty  farrish 
The  snore  of  him — fit  to  shake  the  parish. 

So  of  coorse.      But  ick  enough  you'll  be  sayin 
Boosely  music  to  be  play  in 
Li'k  a  surt  of  accompUimink 
To  the  coortin — and  aisy  so  to  think, 
Aisy,  natheral ;  but  still 
People  that's  coortin,  yc  sec,  they  will ; 

'   At  him,  on  his  part.  *  Chul,  tut. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  51 

And  somethin  to  know  the  ould  chap's  safe — 
I'd  rather  trust  him  snorin  than  deaf, 
'Deed  I  would.     But  you  wouldn  sundher 
From  the  gel  you  love  for  the  roots  of  thundher. 
But  couldn  help  laughin  sometimes — pirry  us  !  ^ 
Special  Harry,  that  wasn  that  sirrious,^ 
Nor  that  deep  like  Jack :   but  often  corrected 
At  this  fellow  — Her  father  must  be  respected 
To  his  very  snore,  says  Jack,  as  solium 
As  avar  ye  seen  a  what-d'ye-call-um. 

A7id  had  they  it  all  to  themselves  that  tune  ? 
What  was  all  the  other  chaps  doin  ? 
Well,  you'll  obsarve,  it  wasn  none 
But  the  miner  lads  that  ever  done 
The  reg'lar  sooreyin  that's  in,^ 
Lek  what  they're  callin  sooreyin — 
Proper  lek — you  know  the  surt — 
Them  other  chaps  I  was  tellin,  that  dirt 
Of  shoemakers,  and  tailors,  and  jiners 
And  that,  was  freckened  ^  of  the  miners, 

^  Pity  us,  good  gracious  !  -  Serious. 

'  Courting  that  is  courting,  *  Frightened. 


THE   MANX  WITCH 

Reg'lar  freckcncd,  and  navar  dar'd 

Show  a  nose  inside  of  the  yard 

After  the  milkin — no — they  dar'n' — 

Aw  they're  not  to  be  trifled  with,  miners  ar'n' — 

You'd  batthar  bclave  it  I  one  or  two  of  them 

Tried  it  a  bit,  but  all  the  crew  of  them 

Jined — these  miners  down  at  the  Pub, 

Memljers  of  the  "  Nessy  Club  " — 

Yis,  that's  what  they  were  callin  the  'ciety — 

And  they  tuk  such  urdhcr,^  and  worked  such  variety 

Of  ghoses  and  goblins,  and  big  bogganes,"'* 

Like  divils  growlin  in  their  dens, 

And  groanin  terble  behind  the  fences. 

That  they  freckencd  these  fellas  urrov"'  their  senses. 

So  that  was  all  right ;  and  Harry  and  Jack 

Had  no  more  trouble  with  the  lek. 

But  every  one  their  own  troughs — 

That  was  the  co(Jilin  of  these  boughs'* — 

Houghs,  ye  know — yis,  that  was  the  name — 

I'ushin  each  other — a  rum  surt  o'  game 

'  Order,  made  such  arrangements. 
-■  The  "  lubber  fiend  "  of  Milton. 
•  Oul  of.  '   I'oor  (creatures). 


THE   MANX  WITCH  53 

To  plase  a  gel ;  and  laughin  that  rough — 
A  passil  o'  donkeys,  sure  enough  ! 

But  still  these  two  had  another  plan — 
Jack,  of  coorse,  the  head  man, 
And  Harry  was  willin  either  way ; 
But  Jack  persuaded  him  to  lay 
The  thing  before  the  committee 
Of  the  club,  and —  Couldn  they  all  agree 
That  Jack  and  Harry  had  the  chance. 
And  let  the  others  go  to  France, 
Or  Jericho  ?     And  statin  their  case — 
And  "  for-as-much,"  and  "  the  year  of  grace  " — 
And  signed  and  sealed,  and  made  declar^ 
That  Nessy  was  favourin  them  far 
Above  the  other  chaps  ;  and  so 
What  was  the  good  for  them  to  go 
Any  more  ?  and  the  register  at  them  -' 
To  stop  at  once,  and  jtist  to  let  them 
Settle  it  theirselves,  whichever 
Nessy  'd  chice^  and  for  him  to  have  her — 
Aw,  as  true  as  I'm  a  sinner — 
1  Declaration.  -  Their  register.  ^  Chose. 


54  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  fair  play,  and  back  t/ic  winner  ! 
And  tuk  their  davies^  bein  as't^- 
And proposed  and  seconded,  and  passed 
Umnanermous  ^ — and  "  Do-to-wit,"  ^ 
And  "  Amen,"  and  "  So  be  it  "  ! 
Very  solium — makin  motions — 
Aw,  these  miners  has  their  notions. 

From  that  very  day  there  wasn  a  sowl 
Interferin  ;  but  Jack  got  foul 
Of  these  tailor-lads  and  all  the  rout, 
And  he  wouldn  have  them  comin  about. 
And  he  went  to  IJrcw,  and  he  axed  him  to  act- 
"It's  puffeck''  scandalous,"'  says  Jack, 
"  Puffeck  scandalous." — "  And  you, 
What  are  )  ou  after  then  ?  "  says  Brew — 
"Aye,  man,  aye?  if  I  may  make  so  bould." 
So  Jack  bucked  up  to  him,  and  tould 
All  about  it.     And — "  Bless  my  life  ! 
And  is  she  goin  to  be  your  wife  ? 
Yours?"  says  Brew,  "engaged,  it's  lek  ? 

'  AflTidavits.  '■'  Askcil.  ^  Un.inimously. 

*  P'ragmcnt  of  diplomatic  phra<>c.  *  I'crfcctly. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  5  5 

Engaged  is  it  ?  a  purty  speck  !  "  ^ 

"  No,"  says  Jack,  "  but  goin  to  be — 

Coortin." — "  Coortin  !  fiddlededee  ! 

Botheration  !  what  d'ye  say  ? 

Yoii're  coortin  regular  ?     Coort  away  ! 

But  these  coUaghs  -  that's  comin  about  the  farm 

Of  an  evenin — bless  my  sowl !     What  harm  ? 

Rather  company,  lek  a  surt  of  a  cheerin." 

But  Jack  was  terble  perseverin — 
"  They're  jokin  her,"  he  says,  "  and  provokin  her,"  he  says, 
"Till  she  up's  and  at  them  out  and  in. 
And  gives  them  the  imperince  of  sin — 
And  isn  nathral  in  her — no  ! 
And  it's  spilin  the  gel ;  and  it's  boosely  show  !  ^ 
And  she  isn  nice  that  way  a  bit, 
And  it  isn  right,  and  it  isn  fit ; 
And  you've  got  the  torrity,"^  Masthar  Brew, 
So  give  them  it !  aw  do,  aw  do  ! " 
"  Torrity,"  says  Brew,  "  gallivantin  ! 
I'll  torrity  them,  if  it's  that  what  you're  wantin." 

1  A  pretty  speculation.  '  Lads, 

=*  Very  beastly,  very  bad.  ■*  Authority. 


56  THE   MANX  WITCH 

"Torrity  !"  and  as  grim  as  grim — 
So  this  was  the  way  he  torritied  them. 

The  very  next  evenin — aw  navar  fail ! 
He  come  upon  the  street  with  a  flail — 
'  Clear  out  of  this  !"  says  he,  and  a  slash 
Lek  every  way — "clear  out,  yc  trash  ! 
Clear  out !"  he  says,  "  ye  Skilligalee  ! 
These  wayses  isn  shuitin  me — 
Clear  out !"  and  he  made  another  quiver. 
And  they  cleared  that  yard  pretty  ([uick,  however. 
Aw  yis,  I  tell  ye — and  Nessy  that  white 
^^'ith  the  mad,  and  standin  on  her  right, 
And — "  Nice  work  !"  and  wouldn  speak 
To  the  father  or  Jack  the  best  of  a  week. 

liut  coaxed,  did  Jack,  aw  coaxed  iier  though, 
And  Harry  to  help  him,  and  the  orchard  like  snow 
That  year  up  yandhar,  like  snow  ;  you'd  see't 
The  best  of  a  mile — aw  a  rcg'lar  sheet — 
Most  beautiful.     And  Lord  love  yc  ! 
The  nice  it  is  to  have  yandhar  above  you 
And  all  around  you,  as  you  may  say — 
Apple-blossom  in  the  middle  of  May. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  57 

That's  the  coortin  !     Aw,  lave  it  alone  ! 
The  Queen  of  England  upon  her  throne 
Might  envy  you  then.     The  trees  like  nets 
All  knotted  over  with  white  rosettes, 
Like  white  ladies  standin  theer — 
In  the  spring — of  coorse  :  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
I  don't  know ;  but  still,  for  a  chice — 
But  bless  ye  !  an  orchard  is  allis  nice  : 
It's  like  heaven,  I  think,  and  the  angels  flittin 
From  tree  to  tree,  and  you  to  be  sittin 
With  .  .  .  well,  well,  well !  the  Lord  can  save, 
The  Lord,  the  Lord  it  was  that  gave, 
Gave  her,  gave  her,  and  tuk  her  the  same. 
And  blessed  be  His  holy  name  ! 
Aisy,  lads  !  it's  a  finish  night — 
All  right,  all  right ! 

So,  as  I  was  a-sayin — aye,  aye,  in  the  fall 
Maybe  not  so  nice ;  but  still  the  smell 
Of  the  apples— aw  dear  !  they'll  do  ye  !  they'll  do  ye  ! 
Aw  through  and  through   ye!    through   and  through 

ye  ! 
It's  a  very  lovin  smell  is  apples — 


58  THE  MANX  WITCH 

This  stuff  the  Romans  burns  in  their  chapels 

Is  very  sweet !  but  what  is  it  comparin 

To  apples,  special  goin  a-bearin 

In  an  orchard — all  a  surt  of  'spicion 

Of  rum  things  about,  like  some  faery  was  fishin 

With  a  smell  for  a  bait — invisible — 

Aw  sartinly — but  a  smell,  a  smell. 

And  sure  enough  the  sarpint  knew't — 
'Deed  he  did,  the  ugly  brute — 
There's  no  mistake  it's  that  that  done 

Eve  altogether I  mean,  begun, 

Kor  ate  she  did,  and  so  did  Adam, 
But  ate  she  needn — this  tasty  madam. 
No — but  smellin  she  couldn  help — 
That's  where  he  had  her— this  divil's  whelp, 
Had  her  for  sure. 

r>ut  what  a  place 
That  garden  must  have  been  !  bad  'cess 
To  them  that  lost  it  for  us — aye ! 
And  let  them  boo,  and  let  them  cry. 
Had  to  turn  out  that  very  minute — 
A  garden  !     ^Vhy,  (iod  was  walkiii  in  it 


THE   MANX  WITCH  59 

In  the  cool  of  the  day,  the  Bible's  tellin — 
Dear  me !  the  grand  it  must  ha'  been  smellin  ! 
Talk  of  gardens  !  talk  of  loss  ! 
But  what  a  donkey  that  Adam  was 
Hidin  himself  aback  o'  the  bushes, 
Him  and  Eve,  like  a  pair  of  big  thrushes, 
And  only — but  bless  me  !  the  foolishness  ! 
But  loss  ^  the  place  !  loss  the  place  ! 

The  garden,  aye  !  the  garden  of  Eden — 
But  an  orchard  too — the  way  we're  readin 
About  yandhar  fruit,  and  the  terble  desi'ble  ^ 
For  food  and  that,  but  scandlus  li'ble 
To  die  if  you  eat.     But  the  Ballaquine 
Had  a  orchard — aw  dear  !  but — never  mind  ! 
There's  no  doubt  but  God  Himself  might  ha'  walked 
In  yandhar  place,  and  heard  what  was  talked. 

Sooreyin  ?  ^  yes,  sooreyin  ! 
I'll  tell  ye  what  it  is,  my  men — 
You  don't  understand — -this  gel  was  gud, 
And  so  was  Jack :  there's  love  that's  mud, 

1  Lost.  2  Desirable.  ^  Courting. 


6o  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Xot  love — I  know,  I  know,  liill  Mat, 

Ah  !  no  need  to  tell  me  o'  that ! 

But  love  that  '11  take  a  gel,  and  lifl"  her 

To  the  heaven  of  heavens,  that's  the  differ  ; 

No  black  disgrace,  but  pure,  man,  pure 

As  the  sthrames  that  gathers  in  old  Ballure — 

Why  wouldn  God  be  with  the  lek  ? 

Walkin,  list'nin,  I  expeck, 

Aye,  and  blessin — fruits  and  flowers, 

\\'hat  arc  they  all  to  the  hearts  that  pours 

All  their  joy  and  all  their  love 

Into  one  another  ?     God  above  ! 

An  honest  gel  and  an  honest  lad  ! 

Can  Thou  sec  them,  and  not  be  glad  ? 

Thou  sees,  Thou  knows,  Thou  loves  them — aye ! 

Every  kiss  and  every  sigh, 

Iwcry  sigh  and  every  kiss, 

I'A'cn  if  it's  not  in  Genesis. 

lie  happy  then,  my  lovin  birds  ! 
God  bless  true  sweethearts  !  them's  the  words — 
A  holier  thing,  and  no  mistake  in,' 

'  There  is  no  mistake. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  6i 

He  navar  made  in  all  His  makin — 
True  as  steel — but  don't  forget, 
God's  walkin  in  the  garden  yet ! 

Queer  sooreyin  ?  you're  thinkin,  eh  ? 
Well  that  depends,  as  one  may  say. 
On  who  you  are,  and  what  you  are — 
Of  coorse  !  of  coorse  !  my  man-o'-war  ! 
There's  sarpints  in  the  garden  too, 
Aw,  as  common  as  hoiv-cTye-do  ! 
Yis  !  and  howavar  the  happy  you'll  be, 
It's  well  to  remember  Him  that  can  see 
Your  very  heart,  and  if  it's  clane, 
He'll  make  you  twice  as  happy  again. 

Terble  religious  I  got  on  the  sudden  ? 
Jemmy,  ate  your  own  pudden, 
Do  now,  do  !  it  'd  be  a  dale  batter  ; 
You  don't  know  much  about  the  matter, 
Not  much,  I  think.     There  was  used  to  be  once 
A  thing  they  was  callin  innocence — 
Now  then,  Jemmy  !     It's  God  that  picks  them, 
These  lovers,  and  He  stands  betwix  them  ; 


62  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Every  look,  and  every  breath 

Is  God's  ;  they're  faithful  unto  death, 

Because  God  is  faithful ;  not  thinkin  of  Him, 

Lek  enough,  but  Him  of  them 

Sartin  sure.     No  saint  wasn  Jack, 

Nor  Nessy  ithcr,  lek  you'll  see  in  a  track — 

No  !  but  only  the  nither  'd  ha'  seen 

The  other  in  trouble  for  the  wealth  of  the  Queen  ; 

And  if  it  had  happened,  I'll  tell  ye  what — 

Jack  'd  ha'  cut  his  throat  like  a  shot, 

And  Nessy's  too — bless  ye  !  outragers  ! 

Hot  as  fire  !  so  that's  the  rclajers  !  ^ 

Yes,  and  still  this  Nessy  was  tazin  him 
Despard  though,  aw  nearly  crazin  him — 
And  touch-me-not !  and  sniffs  and  snuffs, 
And  sulks  and  sulks,  and  huffs  and  huffs. 
And  was  the  I^yrd  behvix  than  then  1 
Aisy  !  with  them  ?  with  them,  my  men  ? 
With  them  ?  with  them  ?  .  .  .  and  what  for  wouldn  I  k  ? 
With  them  !  with  them  !  and  what  for  shouldn  He? 
With  them  !  with  ihem  \    -sartinly  ! 

'  The  religious. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  63 

And  d it  all !  don't  talk  to  me  ! 

D'ye  hear  ? 

But  lizzen  now  what  will  folia — 
This  Harry  was  chiced  ^  for  a  dooiney-moUa, 
Chiced  complate ;  and  went  with  Jack 
Every  night — aw  he  wouldn  be  slack  ! 
Givin  up  all  notion  of  Nessy, 
Aw,  aisy-goin  urrov  messy  !  "^ 
And  made  up  his  mind  it  wasn  no  use, 
And  dooiney-mollain  like  the  deuce. 

Fuss-rate — ye  see  the  chap 
Wasn  worth  the  smallest  scrap 
At  lovin,  no  !  it  was  dooiney-mollain 
That  he  was  good  for,  follain,  follain,^ 
Buckin  up,  lek  what  you'd  call  a — 

Well,  you  know a  dooiney-molla — 

That's  it — lek  semperthizin 
Pirriful  * — aw  quite  surprisin — 
Yis — lek  lovin  just  to  be  theer, 
Just  to  lizzen — this  Harry  Creer — 

1  Chosen.        -  Out  of  mercy,  extraordinarily.         ^  Following. 
"*  Pitifully,  wonderfully. 


64  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Aye,  and,  every  kiss  that  was  go'n, 

Just  to  give  a  little  moan 

Urrov  ^  him,  very  low  and  soft, 

Or  maybe  a  little  bit  of  a  cough 

Or  the  Ick  ;  but  keepin  as  close  as  close. 

That  he  wouldn  be  missin  the  smallest  ghost 

Of  a  sound  or  a  sigh,  and  laenin  his  chin 

On  Jack's  shouldhcr,  and  lizzcnin, 

Lizzenin — and  his  breath  goin  jjourin 

Agen  -  Jack's  ear,  and  had  to  be  cowrin 

Rather — stoopin,  ye  know,  for  the  big 

He  was  compared  to  Jack  ;  and  'd  twig 

I^vcry  little  hil<h  that  was  clickin. 

And  Jack's  heart  that  was  goin  a-tickin 

Like  a  clock.     And  Ncssy  up  in  the  windher, 

But  none  so  high ;  and  Jack  to  meandher 

Some  dodge  to  get  nearer,  to  hould  her  hand 

When  she'd  stretch  it  down,  you'll  understand. 

And  sometimes  he'd  get  a'toj)  of  a  tub, 
Or  anything  that  was  handy,  a  scrub 
Of  a  trammon  '^'that  was  growin  there — 

'  Out  of.  '  Against.  '  Kldcrtrcc. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  65 

Aw,  lave  him  alone  !  aw,  navar  fear  ! 

Bless  ye !  he  was  soople  was  Jack ; 

And  sometimes  gettin  on  Harry's  back, 

And  standin  on  Harry's  shouldher,  and  flingin 

His  arms  round  Nessy's  neck,  and  bringin 

Her  face  to  his  in  the  very  middle 

Of  the  honeysuckles — aw  then  the  thriddle 

Of  thrimblin  that  shivered  the  back  of  this  Harry — 

Semperthizin — bless  ye  !  very — 

Semperthizin — didn  I  say  ? 

Semperthizin  anyway. 

"  Get  down  !  "  says  Ness}',  "  don't  ye  see 

That  Harry  is  tired  ?  " — "  Not  me  !  not  me  !  " 

And  just  like  a  mason  with  his  hod, 

As  stiff— and  beggin  for  the  love  of  God 

They'd  go  on ;  and  gevvin  ^  a  surt  of  a  coo — 

"  Aw  keep  it  up  !  aw  do  !  aw  do  !  " 

And  as  strong  as  a  bull,  and  wouldn  be  beat. 

But  sweethearts  can't  be  allis  like  that, 

With  a  fellow  to  lizzen  to  all  they're  say'n — 

Bless  your  sowl !  the  thing  is  plain — 

Can't :  so  sometimes  Harry  had  orders 

^  Giving. 
F 


66  THE   MANX  WITCH 

To  stand  a  bit  off  aback  o'  some  borders, 

Or  under  the  biggest  apple-tree. 

So  there  this  dooiney-molla  'd  be, 

Very  patient,  but  strainin,  strainin 

To  hear  the  coortin,  and  lek  enough  rainin, 

Or  snowin,  or  blowin — 

Dear  me  !  what's  the  odds  ?     No  knowin 

The  happy  Harry  was,  just  to  be  catchin 

The  smallest  whisper  ;   like  a  hen  when  she's  hatchin, 

Sittin  that  quite ;  ^  but  the  little  sweep 

Is  liz'nin  too  for  some  sign  of  a  cheep 

At "  one  of  the  eggs — aw  deed  she  is. 

And  so  this  Harry  ;  and  if  he  heard  a  kiss, 

Which  of  coorse  he  did,  and  raisonable. 

He'd  moan  the  softest  he  was  able — 

Like  a  flute  he'd  moan,  like  a  flute  !  surprisin  ! 

Semjierthizin,  scmpcrthizin. 

So — very  well  !  very  well ! 
Aye — but  now  I've  got  somcthin  to  tell, 
That  you'll  maybe  i)e  wondhrin  the  change,  d'ye  hear  ! 
The  change  that  come  on  Harry  Crcer. 

'  Quietly.  '  On  the  part  of. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  67 

The  aunt — the  aunt ;  aye  !  that's  the  woman — 
Misthriss  Banks,  and  hemmin  and  hummin, 

And  hintin but  wait  a  bit a  wedda  ^ 

She  was,  and  lived  above  the  medda  ^ 

At  the  Ballaquine— a  kind  of  a  'cess  ^ 

Up  there,  bein  rather  a  boosely  "^  place ; 

And  the  house  like  these  sheds  where  the  herrins  is  saltin 

At  Derby  Haven — a  reg'lar  thalthin  !  ^ 

Herself  and  her  son  was  livin  there, 

But  how  she  was  livin well,  I'll  swear 

I  don't  know,  and  still  I  do. 
Ye  see,  he  was  an  aisy  man,  was  Brew ; 
But  he  w^ouldn  have  her  in  the  house, 
No  he  wouldn  ;  and  the  wuss  ^  of  his  cows 
He  gave  her — and  just  a  bit  of  a  crof ' 
T'other  side  of  the  gill  that  was  wallin  off 
From  the  farm,  lek  separate,  more  of  a  Lhergy  ^ 
Than  anything  else.     And  a  chap  called  Curghey 
Was  jinin  next  to  her — Curphey — says  Jem — 
Curghey  and  Curphey's  all  the  same — 

^  Widow.         2  Meadow.         ^  Recess,  nook.         ■*  Beastly,  rough. 

*  Half-ruined  cottage.  ^  Worst. 

"  High  waste-land. 


68  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Miser'ble  land,  hafc  ^  rock,  hafe  feerins," 

And  the  rest  of  it  cushags,^  and  havin  its  bearins 

Nor'-west  of  the  Ballaquine.     But  she  didn 

Live  on  her  land,  let  alone  her  midden, 

Nor  the  cow  ;  for  the  cow  was  starvin  with  her. 

And  the  croft  it  navar  got  nothin  ither, 

No  care,  nor  'tintion  :  not  much  for  work 

Wasn  Misthriss  Banks.     If  she'd  had  the  Perk  ^ 

Of  Barrule — Lleivellyn^s  1  to  be  sure  ! 

Owned  at''  William  Fyne  Moor — 

She'd  ha'  been  just  the  same.     So  how  then,  how 

Was  the  woman  livin  ?     Don't  make  a  row  ! 

I'll  tell  ye ;  the  woman  was  livin  on  a  pension 

From  a  sartin  party  we'd  best  not  mention — 

She  done  his  work,  and  she  earned  his  wages, 

Aw,  that's  the  terms  the  ould  chap  engages 

He's  got  his  grip  o'  them — touch  for  touch — 
A  7i<utch  V'     Of  coorse  she  was  a  wutch, 
And  a  black  wutch,  the  wuss  that's  goin — 

The  white  is well,  I'm  hardly  knowin 

Is  the  lek  in  : '   but  these  ould  things 

'   Half.         -  l-'crns.         •'  Kat^wort.         *  I'ark,  large  enclosure. 
»  By.  "  Witch.  '  Do  sucli  exist. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  69 

That's  sellin  charms  to  sailors,  rings, 
Papers,  ye  know — why,  bless  my  sowl  ! 
Here's  one  at  me  ^ — it's  middlin  oul', 
Wore  I  don't  know  the  teens  of  years 
On  my  heart  here,  look,  la  !     Sally  Tear's 
The  woman  that  sould  it — in  Castletown — 
Queen  Street — aye — and  half-a-crown  .  .  . 
I  spose  the  most  of  ye's  got  the  lek 
Somewhere  hung  around  your  neck. 

But  there's  odds  of  charms  ;  for  some  is  just 
A  surt  of  a  blessin ;  but  some  is  a  cuss, 
Most  bitther,  brewed  in  the  very  gall 
Of  spite  and  hate,  and  '11  creep  and  crawl 
Over  your  body  and  over  your  sowl, 
Aye,  man  !  aye  !  at  laste  so  I'm  tould — 
And  through  and  through,  and  makin  you  sick. 
And  makin  you  mad — aw,  they  know  the  trick  ! 
Cussin  your  fingers  and  cussin  your  toes, 
Cussin  your  mouth  and  cussin  your  nose, 
Every  odd  jint,  and  every  limb. 
And  all  your  inside — that's  the  thrim — 

^  In  my  possession. 


70  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Cussin  your  horse  and  cussin  your  cow, 
Cussin  the  boar  and  cussin  the  sow — 
Everything  that's  got  a  tail ; 

Aye,  and  your  spade,  and  your  cart,  and  your  flail, 
Plough  and  harras,'  stock  and  crop, 
Nets  and  lines — they'll  navar  stop — 
Treminjis  cussin — charms  1  yis  ! 
Hut  writin — no  !  hut  spit  and  hiss 
And  mutter  and  mumble — that's  your  surt ! 
Rags  that's  tore  from  the  divil's  ould  shirt — 
He'll  claim  his  own.     You'll  be  passin  by. 
And  not  a  word,  Init  the  evil  eye- 
There  ye  are  !  you're  struck,  they've  done  ye  ! 
They've  got  ye — you're  tuck  !  they've  put  it  upon  ye — 
Aw  boosely  shockin  !     And  harbs  !  they  picks  them 
The  right  time  of  the  moon,  and  they'll  take  and  mix 

them — 
I've  seen  this  woman  myself  goin  pryin 
Under  the  hedges,  and  sloopin  and  spyin  ; 
And  if  she  seen  me,  she'd  give  a  gum 
Most  horrid  at  nie.      Yis,  and  they'll  burn. 
And  they'll  fry  and  they'll  stew,  and  makin  faces — 

'   Harrows. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  7' 

What  is  it  they  won't  do  ? — Brutes  o'  bases  ! 

I  know  their  par  and  I  know  their  mar — 

Divils  !  divils  !  that's  what  they  are  ! 

And  should  be  tuk  and  burnt  the  way 

They  used  to  be — by  gough,  I'll  lay 

You'd  smell  the  brimstone — you  would  so — 

But  no  justice  now,  nor  nothin — no  ! 

Terble  changes — takin  and  slammin  them 

In  the  Lunertic  Asylum — crammin  them 

With  the  best  o'  good  livin,  and  rates  and  taxes, 

And  a  doctor,  and  anything  they  axes — 

At  the  Sthrang  ^  there — aye  !  and  a  mortal  buildin, 

And  the  money  flyin,  and  carvin  and  gildin, 

And  a  fine  sittervation,  terble  airy 

And  hip-hooraa  for  Robby  Fairy  !  ^ 

"  Down  with  the  taxes  !  "  says  Robby,  "  bad  luck  with 

them  ! " 
Taxes  !  aw  Robby  '11  have  no  truck  with  them. 

But  the  'sylum  wasn  thought  of  then  ; 
And  she  wasn  threescore  years  and  ten, 

1  The  Isle  of  Man  Lunatic  Asylum  at  the  Strang,  near  Douglas. 
2  Famed  as  a  nondescript  reformer. 


72  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Wasn  jNIisthriss  Banks,  nor  sixty  ither, 

But  'stonishin  the  way  they'll  wither — 

The  lek — aw  a  reg'lar  flibberty-gibberty 

Surt  of  a  woman,  and  liked  her  liberty, 

Aye,  and  tuk  it.      And  when  she  was  drest 

And  titervated  all  in  her  best, 

And  her  white  stockin,  and  her  lastin  slipper, 

1  tell  ye  she  looked  a  reg'lar  clipper, 

Tasty  uncommon  at  Hollantide  fair 

Or  the  lek — aw  the  tastiest  woman  there — 

Painted,  ye  know — aw  lips  and  cheeks. 

Like  plaster  just,  lek  goin  in  streaks. 

Like  varnish  mostly,  like  polish,  like  size  ; 

And  I  don't  know  what  the  divil  she  was  doin  to  her 

eyes — 
Like  a  play-acthur.      So  with  all  this  criss-crosserin,' 
And  dahbin  and  grainin'"'  and  pink-saucerin,"^ 
You'd  hardly  thought,  of  the  whole  i)ilin, 
You  got  the  blackest  wutch  on  the  Islan. 

But  still  we  hcv  it  in  Revelation 

And  about  the  cup  oj  aboviinatiou — 

'  Some  vague  idea  of  hatchinp  (shading)  seems  meant. 
'In  painting.  '  A  primitive  dye,  or  cosmetic. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  73 

And — f/ie  blood  of  the  saints and  goin  a-dressin 

In  a  scarlet  frock,  like  a  foreign  pessin — 

A  bad  lot  that and  Jezebel, 

Lookin  out  at  the  windher — aw  a  despard  swell ! 

And  painted  her  face,  and  tired  her  head — 

"  Fling  her  down  ! ''  this  Jehu  said — 

"  Fling  her  down  !  "  and  tuk  and  swung  her — 

One — two — "  Fling  ! "'  aw  by  gough  they  flung  her. 

Aw  Jehu  was  mortal  boosely  though — 

You  mind  the  heads  there  all  in  a  row, 

Seventy  of  them  at  the  gate, 

And  kings'  sons,  and  lekly  as  nate 

As  a  pin,  and  the  hair  of  them  just  like  silk. 

And  comin  in  in  the  mornin  with  the  milk — 

Aw  Jehu — —  well,  I  havn  a  word 

To  say — but  still — —  ye  see,  the  Lord — 

So  lave  it  alone  ;  but,  of  a  rule. 

Them  ould  kings  was  middlin  cru'l. 

Misthriss  Banks  !  Misthriss  Banks  ! 
Aw,  a  big  long  woman,  thin  in  the  flanks. 
That,  when  she  was  up  to  these  divil's  pranks, 
It  had  ha'  took  Ould  Harry  himself  to  hould  her — 


74  THE  MANX  WITCH 

High  in  the  hips,  and  high  in  the  shoulder — 

Yes,  and  I  was  tellin  just  now 

The  stunnin  she  looked,  and  the  when  and  the  how, 

And  round  the  Cape,  and  past  Bigode, 

And  cock  her  up  !  and  clear  the  road  ! 

And  in  on  the  fair — The  Hills  1^  eh,  what  ? 

Sartinly  !  the  ould  spot. 

And  rings  and  rings,  and  silk  and  satin, 

Aw  as  grand  as  grand  !  and  goin  a-traitin  - 

At  ^  the  lads,  of  coorse.     But  the  evenin 

Was  another  pair  of  oars,  my  men. 

Screwed?  is  it  screwed?  dead  drunk,  if  ye  plaze, 

Like  a  bustin  tar-barrel  all  in  a  blaze 

Of  cussin  and  blastin,  and  laughin  and  cryin 

And  singin — aw,  if  you'd  only  ha'  heard  her  ! 

And  a  splash  and  a  mash,  and  kickin  and  lyin 

In  a  surt  of  a  midden  of  muck  and  murder  ! 

Koamin,  frothin,  splitter-splutter. 

Like  fits,  like  possessed — aw  roult  in  the  gutter ; 

Somethin  Ick  it's  put  in  the  Acts — 

I  don't  azackly  remember  the  facts, 

'  The  old  Douglas  fair-ground,  on  tliccslalc  known  as  "  Tlic  Hills." 
-'  Being  treated.  •'  !?>•. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  7  5 

But  a  woman  that  shouted,  and  lek  enough  whopt  to 't 
At^  the  scamps  that  kep  her;  but  Paul  put  a  stop  to 't. 

Not  much  of  a  'sample  for  Nessy,  you'll  say — 
Well,  hardly,  hardly  anyway. 
So  that's  the  raison  Brew  wouldn  hev  her 
In  the  house  arrim  theer,"  and  tuk  and  gev  her 
The  thalthan — wouldn  hev  her,  no ! 
Wouldn  !  wouldn  !  wouldn  though  ! 

Did  I  tell  you  about  the  chile  she  had  ? 
Job  he  was  callin — a  lump  of  a  lad 
Them  times,  but  younger  till  his  cousin. 
Short  was  Job — of  his  body  he  wasn  ; 
But  short  of  wit — the  innercent 
Ye  navar — that's  the  way  I  meant — 
Soft,  no  doubt,  aw  soft ;  but  grew 
A  splandid  falla  ;  soft,  but  true 
As  steel,  and  gud,  and  full  of  grace, 
And  a  beautiful  face  !  a  beautiful  face  ! 
Aw  the  gentle  !   aw  the  sweet ! 
I  tell  ye  what — you  wouldn  meet 
The  lek  of  Job  on  a  long  day's  march — 
1  \\Tiipped  to  it  by.  ^  With  him  there. 


76  THE   MANX  WITCH 

No  you  wouldn — and  as  straight  as  a  larch — 

Lovely  made — and  the  big  blue  eye, 

Aw  fit  to  make  a  body  cry  ! 

And  grew— —  but  that  was  years  and  years 

Afterwards avast  these  tears — 

Look  at  me  ! — another  night 

I'll  give  you  Job all  right !  all  right  1 

Aw  a  tcrble  story but  he  wears  the  robe — 

Washed,  ah  washed  !  poor  Job  !  poor  Job  ! 

But  the  nither  Job  nor  the  mother  was  gettin 
Admission  to  Brew's,  except  she'd  be  lettin 
In  at '  Nessy  on  the  sly, 

When  Brew  was  in  bed — aw,  she  wouldn  be  shy 
Wouldn  yandhar ;  but  freckened  enough 
Of  Brew  that  cud  be  despard  rough, 
For  all  the  aisy  ;  but  freckened  though, 
Kreckened  himself — aw,  I'd  have  ye  to  know  ! 
Freckened  thallure ;-  for  he  knew  she  could  wither 
The  heart  of  him  into  ould  shoe-leather, 
Or  any  other  diviliiicnl — 
Wit<  bin,  wutchin,  wherever  she  went, 

'   Let  in  by.  *  ICnouKh. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  11 

Wutchin  sartin  ;  but  kep  it  off 

With  this  thalthan,  and  the  cow,  and  the  crof — 

He  had  her  there,  and  middlin  safe, 

He  was  thinkin — aye,  but  didn  hafe  ^ 

Like  the  thing ;  and  made  up  his  mind 

She  shouldn  get  in  on  the  Ballaquine, 

Her  nor  her  child. 

But  the  woman  was  fond 
Uncommon  of  Nessy — or  was  it  the  bond, 
And  Nessy  in  it ;  unknownst,  of  coorse, 
To  herself?  but  anyway  such  a  foorce 
She  done  of  charms  there,  early  and  late. 
That  she  put  the  comedher  ^  on  Nessy  complate, 
Clane  ^  comedher,  harpooned,  and  haulin  it — 
Fascernatioti  the  Pazon  was  callin  it — 
Fascernation — and  might  have  been — 
"  Kayar  !*  kayar  !  "   says  ould  M'Queen, 
"  That'll  bring  her  up  " — and  maybe  it  will : 
Tremenjers  though,  aw  terrible  ! 
Kayar,  for  the  strong  it  was  houldin  the  gel, 
And  spun  from  nothin  but  the  wind  of  hell —  ■ 
That's  the  Kayar  !  and  wasn  it  a  pity  ? 
1  Half.       -  Spell  of  attraction.        '  Downright.       *  Strong  rope. 


78  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Poor  thing  !  the  sweet  and  the  pretty, 

And  the  lovin  too,  and  a  d ould  cat 

To  have  her  in  her  power  Hke  that ! 

So  she  tuk  a  notion  of  a  surt  of  suppoortin 
Nessy,  Hke  a  shuperintendin  the  coortin, 
Lek  backin,  lek  watchin,  Ick  a  kind  of  encouragin ; 
And  waitin  till  dark,  and  goin  a  furragin 
About  the  house  ;  and  creep  and  creep — 
And  aisy  to  tell  if  Brew  was  asleep 

With  the  snorin,  bless  ye!     And — "Come  in!  come  in!" 
And  whisperin  and  whisperin  ; 
And  a  bit  of  supper :  and  then  Nessy  'd  say 
"  Time  for  bed  " — and — "  Let  me  stay  ! 
Aw  let  me  !  let  me  ! "     And  only  ri^^ht — 
And  her  aunt  and  all — and  "  Good-night !  good-night !  " 
At '  Nessy.     Aw  then  she'd  dart  in  her  car 
Most  despard  cusses — navar  fear ! 
And  tellin  the  charms  she  had  on  Jack — 
Sfic  could  turn  a>ry  bit  of  his  body  black — 
She  could  make  hint  hate  her — poor  Nessy  15rew  ! 
Nothin  she  ( ouldn  and  wouldn  do  ! 

>  Said  l.y. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  79 

And  the  gel,  you  know,  as  freckened  as  freckened, 
Because  of  coorse  she  navar  reckoned 
But  Misthriss  Banks  could  do  the  jeel  ^ 
She  was  braggin  she  could,  and  she'd  take  and  kneel 
On  her  bended  knees,  and  she'd  cuss — the  baste ! 
Cuss  the  very  skin  off  your  face — 
But  low,  very  low,  that  Brew  wouldn  wake — 
A  surt  of  a  spittin  like  this  new  kind  of  brake 
They've  got  on  the  railways — air  brake,  is  it  ? 
The  dirty  thing,  goin  fizzit !  fizzit ! 
And  spittin  there.     So  up  to  the  room  ! 
She  should  ha'  been  cocked  on  a  lump  of  a  broom 
Sky-high — the  ould  Turk  ! 
And  then  the  comedher  'd  begin  to  work  ; 
And  she'd  coax,  and  she'd  elapse,  and  she'd  play  the  deuce. 
Till  the  poor  thing  was  gettin  all  a  confuse," 
Lek  foolish  lek ;  and  she'd  kiss  and  she'd  cuddle, 
Till  Nessy's  head  'd  be  all  in  a  muddle — 
Swimmin  lek,  lek  heavy — aye  ! 
And  when  Jack  'd  appear,  poor  Nessy  'd  sigh, 
And  come  to  the  window.     But  the  wutch  'd  be  lookin 
Over  her  shouldher — and  crouchin  and  crookin — 

^  Damage.  -  In  a  state  of  confusion. 


8o  THE   MANX  WITCH 

All  eyes  and  ears — but  the  hitch  on  the  tongue, 
Lek  the  ould  moon  keekin  behind  the  young, 
You  know — and  the  little  thing  middlin  shy 
To  step  out  there  in  the  big  broad  sky 
Before  all  the  stars — like  a  panerrammer, 
Mostly.      But  the  ould  one — damn  her ! 
She's  up  to  no  good  that  ever  I  knew, 
At  least  for  the  likes  of  me  and  you. 

But — wutches  in  front,  dooiney-mollas  aback- 
What  surt  of  coortin  was  that  for  Jack  ? 
No  coortin  at  all.      And  bore  it  wanst, 
And  bore  it  twicct  ;  and  then  he  danced 
AVith  ragin  fury — Such  dirt  goin  muckin 
About  the  gel,  he  said,  ami  suckin, 
YeSy  he  said,  suck  in  her  blood , 
Like  a  spider  a  Jly\  or  viakin  crud ' 
0/  it  a/together  ;  and  7vhtre  would  it  stop  ? 
Drainin  her  heart  to  the  last  drop — 
Qiiitc  aisy  to  see — the  gel  gettin  white 
Most  pitiful — a  regular  blight 
On  the  gel,  he  said.     He  could /fv7  her  dra^vin 

'  Curd. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  8i 

Back  and  back,  lek  some  divil  was  clawin 
And  pullin  her  theer,  andfiirder  a?id  furder, 
Lek  innards  someway,  lek  some  hole  of  mia-der 
They  ivere  haulin  her  ttito :  yis,  and  lavin 
Just  a  shape,  lek  a  siirt  of  a  graven 
Image  of  Nessy  at  the  windher, 
And  herself  goin  burnin  into  tindhcr, 
In  some  place  at  ^  these  divils — aye  tuk  and  hove  her 
In  a  pit,  and  roullin  her  over  and  over 
On  coals  of  fire — and  hotter  and  hotter — 
Yis,  yis,  yis — and  whe?-e  had  they  got  her  ? 
That  wasn  Nessy — and  he'd  hev  his  revenge 
And  he'd  stop  this  work,  and  this  WJitch  should  senge 
In  the  deepest  of  hell  herself.     And  he  spoke 
Middlin  plain  ;  and  //  luasn  710  joke 
For  hi?n,  he  said,  nor  for  Nessy,  he  said  : 
And — "  Go  home  with  ye  !  go  !  go  home  to  bed ! 
Who's  wantin  ye  here — with  your  skinny  throat  ? 
You're  a  big  bLick  wutch,  and  I'd  have  ye  to  know't." 

So  the  Banks  to  go  and  Jack  to  stay. 
But  the  coortin  was  bruk  at  them  anyway, 

1  By. 
G 


82  THE   MANX   WITCH 

That  night  at  least ;  for  the  aunt  was  gone 

Like  whisked  through  the  keyhole ;  but  Nessy  was  done, 

I  )one  complate,  and  trimblin  theer 

Most  awful.      And—"  Darlin  '.  "  and  "  Navar  fear  ! "' 

At '  Jack ;  but  no  use,  and  tuk  and  crept 

Back  in  her  bed,  but  never  slept. 

And  worked  at ""  this  wutch  like  the  say  is  workin 

With  a  tidesway,  and  all  her  body  jerkin 

And  tossin  like  a  fever  ;  and  o/i  / 

U7iat  xcoiild  she  do  ?    And  she'd  go,  she'd  go 

First  thing  in  the  mornin,  she  muss  !  she  muss  ! 

And  coax  her  that  she  wouhin  cuss 

This  Jack.      Ikit  still  the  gel  was  fcarin 

The  cuss  'd  be  done  afore  daylight  appearin — 

Burnin  soinethin,  or  raisin  the  divil, 

Or  God  knows  what.      And  "tohy  icasn  he  civill 

Civil,  just  civil !      Aw  Jack  then  !  Jack  then  ! 

The  pity  !     And  —  Would  she  call  him  kick  then  ? 

Back  !  back  !  back  I     .And  jumps  to  the  windher — 

But  Jack  was  gone.      "  He'll  be  burned  to  a  cindher," 

Says  Nessy — poor  sowl  I     You  see,  she  knew 

The  despard  things  these  wutches  can  do 

'  Saiil  by.  "•  Hy. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  83 

On  all  your  body — aw  horrid  they  can  ! 

Horrid,  I  tell  ye.      But  that  was  the  plan, 

For  Jack  was  for  bustin  in  the  door. 

No  matter  whether  Brew  to  snore 

Or  not  to  snore.     "  Who  knows  if  she's  dyin  ?  " 

And  even  to  think  of  her  theer  a-lyin  ! 

God  bless  hhn  !     And  he  made  a  run,  but  caught 

At  -^  Harry  straight,  that  said  he  thought 

They'd  better  make  haste,  you  know,  and  give  sheet  ^ 

After  this  wutch.      And  over  the  street. 

And  over  the  hedges  and  over  the  ditches. 

And  away  for  the  Gill,  but  Harry  got  stitches 

In  his  side  or  the  lek,  and  puffin  and  pantin. 

And  couldn  hould  on,  and  began  a  slantin 

For  the  road,  bein  middlin  freckened  she'd  come 

In  some  shape  or  another,  like  a  corpse,  by  gum  ! 

Or  a  modda-doo,'  goin  bawwawin. 

Or  a  tarroo-ushtey,^  or  a  muck-awin,^ 

Or — "  Stop  !  "  he  says,  "  aw  stop  then  !  stop  !  " 

And — Bless  his  sow/  !  he  was  like  to  drop  ; 

And  a  cow  gave  a  cough — aw  Harry  roared, 

1  By.  "  Chase.  ^  Blzzk  dog  {ste  Peveril  of  the  Peak). 

*  Water-bull  (fabulous).  ^  River-pig  (fabulous). 


84  THE  MANX  WITCH 

And  Harry  screeched,  and  Harry  implored, 
And  Jack  that  bothered  he  had  to  give  in ; 
And  the  two  of  them  home  with  a  safe  skin 
To  Harry's  lodgin,  and  slejit  logetlier, 
But  beat,  and  feelin  foolish  rather. 

The  day  was  hardly  bruk  when  Nessy 
Was  up  to  the  Clill,  and  beggin  for  messy,' 
\x\dfor  a/I  the  sakes  !  and  what  she  would  give  her; 
And  coiildn  t/iey  be  as  thick  as  ci'cr? 
And /aik  loas  onpatient,  but  Jack  was  gttd ; 
And  shc^d  give  Iter  anything  !  yes,  she  7vud ! 
Shed  gi~'e  her  her  brooch  and  her  beautiful  pin, 
And  her  clasp,  and  the  rael  gool  sovereign 
She  got  in  her  box,  and  a  velvet  belt 
That  was  speckled  with  flowers,  and  the  buckle  gilt 
Most  lovely — aye  !  poor  thing  !  poor  thing  ! 
And  ribbons  and  scarfs  I      "Will  you  give  me  the  ring 
You've  got  on  your  finger  then  ?  "  says  the  aunt — 
Her  mother's  weddin-ring  she  meant — 
'•  Will  y(Hi  give  me  thai?"     Then  Nessy  shook 
All  over,  and  she  gave  a  look 

'  Mercy. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  85 

At  the  woman,  and  aw,  the  pitiful ! 
And  then  at  the  ring,  and  begun  to  pull, 
And  stopped,  and  pulled,  and  stopped  again. 
And  the  tears  come  pourin  down  like  rain ; 
And  she  snuggled  her  hand  agin  her  breast. 
And  kissed  and  kissed  and  kissed  and  kissed — 
The  ring,  of  coorse,  and  looks  up  at  the  aunt, 

And  just  a  whisper—"  I  can't !   I  can't ! 

I  seen  him  take  it  .  .  .  take  it,"  she  said, 

"  From  her  finger  .  .  .  — and  the  straight  in  the  bed  .  .  . 

And  the  could,  auntie,  the  could  !  the  could  !  .  .  . ' 

And  the  poor  gel  shivered.      But  the  aunt  to  rowl 

Her  eyes  like  wheels,  and  her  body  stretched 

To  the  full  of  her  height,  and  tuk  and  retched 

All  over  the  child,  till  she  fell  right  down, 

Like  stiff,  Hke  dead — aw  then  I'll  be  bound 

She  had  her  up  and  in  her  lap, 

And  hushee  bowbabbied^  and  on  the  tree-top} 

In  a  minute — aye,  and  stooped  lek  to  cover  her, 

And  sthrooghin "  her  theer,  and  breathin  over  her 

The  wutches  breath,  and  hummin  charms 

In  her  ear ;  and  all  the  strain  of  her  arms, 

^  Fragments  of  a  cradle-song,  ^  Stroking, 


86  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  the  warmth,  and  the  squeeze,  and  the  curl,  and  the  ply 
Of  all  her  body,  till  Nessy  to  sigh. 
And  Nessy  to  move.      And  then  .  .   .  and  then  .   .  . 
She'd  got  another  plan,  my  men. 

"  Aw  no  !  "  she  said,  "  well  no  then  !  no  ! 
Aw  not  the  ring  !  but  .  .  .   lizzen  though  ! 
Lizzen  .  .  .  the  key  of  the  ould  man's  chist  " 
(Her  father)  ..."  five  pound  wouldn  be  missed 
Urrov  ^  yandhar  lot."  .  .  .   Could  she  get  the  key  ? 
And  .  .  .  sometime  he'd  be  out  of  the  icay  .  .  . 
What/     Aw  Nessy  gave  a  spring, 
And  "  Take  it !  take  it !  take  the  ring  ! 
For  God's  sake  !  take  it !  take  it !  take  it ! 
Here  !  here  !  will  that  do  ?  will  that  make  it 
All  right?"  she  says;  "you'll  not  wutth  him — 
Jack,  you  won't  ?  '     "  I'll  never  touch  him,"' 
Says  Mrs.  Banks  ;  and  she'd  come  next  n/'j^ht 
For  the  other  thin}:;s.     So  Nessy  luk  flight 
Like  a  partridge  :  and — "  She  driv  -  me  !  she  driv  me  ! " 
And  "  Mother  !  mother  \  forgive  me  !  forgive  me  ! " 
Poor  Nessy  !  and  all  the  way  she  was  goin 

'  Out  of.  a  Drove. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  87 

She  was  sighin  and  sobbin  and  makin  her  moan — 
"  This  is  love  !  "  she  said,  "  and  the  nice  it  'd  be 
If  it  wasn  for  the  misery  !  " 

And  I'll  tell  ye  what,  the  gel  had  raison. 
She  had,  aw  yes  !  for  it's  just  amazin 
The  work  that's  with  it.     But  still  for  all 
A'^ho'd  be  without  it  ?  to  stand  or  to  fall, 
The  sweet  with  the  bitter  !     But  the  poor  young  things. 
That's  feelin  love  like  birds  feels  wings. 
And  up's  like  the  lark,   and  love  to  crown  them 
With  joy,  and  the  sun  all  round  and  round  them — 
And  then  comes  hail  and  frost  and  snow, 
And  the  thunders  rowl,  and  the  winds  they  blow — 
Aw  dear,  the  poor  birds  !     Ifs  better,  you'd  think, 
To  have  nothin  to  do  luit/i  it?    Chink-chink-chink  ! 
Chunk-chunk-chunk  !  ^     Well,  of  coorse  ye  needn  : 
Bless  ye  !  there's  different  sorts  of  feedin — 
Pigs  isn  larks,  not  them  ;  and  still 
Pigs  is  very  comfible — ■ 
Jine  the  pigs  !  it's  the  easiest  way. 
Shove  your  snout  in  the  trough,  and  suck  away ! 

^  Imitates  the  sound  of  coin. 


88  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Now  Nessy  had  lia'  done  much  batthar 
If  she'd  ha'  come  and  tould  the  matthar 
To  me.     For  I  was  young,  that's  true, 
But  still  I  was  gran'  for  advisin  :  there's  few 
Could  ha'  beat  me,   no  !     And  of  coorse  I'd  ha'  gone 
And  tould  the  Pazon,  and  the  thing  had  been  done 
At  once — God  bless  ye  !  sartinly  ! 
The  Pazon  !  done  ?  my  goodness  me  ! 
But  I  suppose  I  7C'iis  too  young 
For  a  gel  like  her  to  have  took  and  brung 
Her  sorrow  to — it  was  years  and  years, 
After  all  her  hopes  and  all  her  fears 
Was  settled  lek,  she  was  tcllin  me, 
Aw,  no  mistake,  and  as  free  as  free — 
Tellin — bless  ye  !  tellin  uncommon — 
Aw,  I  knew  the  woman  !  I  knew  the  woman  I 
fackl  well  .   .   .  Jack  .   .  .   go  tellin  him? 
Not  her  !  not  her  !     This  despard  limb 
Was  no  good  for  advisin — lovin,  yes — 
But  that's  another  sort  of  guess — 
Lovin — and  dooiney-mollain  too  — 
Well,  you  sec,  it  'd  hardly  do — 
It's  not  what  they're  for,  being  wanted  to  praise 


THE  MANX  WITCH  89 

A  chap  to  his  sweetheart- — let  them  keep  their  place 

These  dooiney-mollas,  not  'visin  ^  her — ■ 

Lek  I  tould  ye,  eh  ?  that's  not  what  they're  fur. 

And  as  for  Harry — Harry  advisin  ? 

Bless  ye  !  Harry  was  stupid  supprisin. 

No,  it  was  me — aw  never  fear ! 

But  still  it  couldn  be ;  so  .  .  .  theer ! 

And  did  she  come  doum  in  the  evenin 
For  the  rest  of  the  thitigs  ?     Aye  did  she  then. 
And  had  them  too,  most  sartinly. 
And  as  good  as  money,  and  away  on  the  spree 
To  Ramsey,  and  not  a  public-house 
Goin  or  comin  that  this  boosely  throuss ' 
Didn  have  her  dhrop.     So  Crow, 
That  was  drivin  the  coach,  he  found  her  though 
Next  mornin  at  King  Orry's  grave,^ 
Drunk  as  a  fish,  and  tuk  and  gave 
Her  a  tip  with  his  whip,  and  waked  her  up — 
Aw  fond  of  a  sup  !  fond  of  a  sup  ! 

But  she  kept  her  word  though — curious  ! 
^  Advising.  -  Slut.  ^  Near  Laxdale. 


90  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Not  the  smallest  taste  of  a  cuss 

Done  on  Jack,  by  night  or  by  day  : 

But  she  worked  the  job  another  way — 

'Deed  she  did  though,  worked  it  gran' — 

Bless  ye  !  Harry  was  her  man. 

Sent  for  Harry  to  come  and  see  her. 

Which  he  went,  but  in  terble  fear. 

Aw,  mortal  uncommon  !     liut — "•  Come  in  !  "  she  says, 

"  And  a  cup  of  tay  ;  and  nice  it  is 

To  see  a  friend,"  and  all  to  that  ^ — 

And  Harrj'  lookin  hard  at  the  cat, 

And  all  about,  and  wondherin 

W  here  was  she  kcepin  the  rum  and  the  gin, 

And  her  dirts  and  her  divilments — in  crocks, 

Harry  was  thinkin,  or — was  it  a  boxl 

Or  bladders  7c>as  it  ?  or  under  her  clothes. 

Or  hid  in  the  Jloor,  or  goodness  kmncs  ! 

Up  the  chimley  lek  enough, 

And  \i  come  to  take  him  by  the  scruff. 

All  of  a  sudden,  as  black  as  ink — 

The  divil — aye — didn  know  what  to  think. 

But  the  place  was  swept,  you  know,  and  clanc, 

'  So  forth. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  91 

And  the  taypot  singin,  and  pinjane  ^ — 

And  the  kettle  you  might  have  seen  your  face  in't, 

And  everything  as  dacent  as  dacent — 

Till  Harry  took  heart,  and  eat  like  a  melya,^ 

Made  a  very  good  tay,  I  tell  ye. 

And  they  talked  of  the  croft,  and  they  talked  of  the  garden, 
And  they  talked  of  her  son,  tJiat  was  only  herdin 
Yet,  she  said ;  hit  she  hoped  he'd  soon 
Have  a  job  at  the  mines,  and  tJien  he'd  be  dd'?i — 
At  an  engine,  perhaps,  but  hard  to  tell. 
And  the  cows  was  shuitin  him  very  well, 
And  away  on  the  mountains  mostly  he  7C'as, 
Herdin  for  Clague's  of  the  Ballacross, 
And  only  home  at  odds  of  ti^ne, 
lust  that  Clague  woidd  take  and  trfm — 
And  a  child,  you  know,  and  coiddn  expcc\ 
And  rather  weak  in  his  interlec\ 
But  not  so  bad.     "  But,  Harry  Creer, 
How  is  it  there's  some  not  far  from  here 
That's  got  pluck  and  wit,  and  all  the  rest, 
And  handsome  chaps,  and  a  match  for  the  best, 

1  Curds-and-whey.  -  Feast  at  Harvest-home. 


92  THE  MANX  WITCH 

And  still  they  don't  see  it  ?     Plenty  of  sanse 

And  everything  .  .  .  and  don't  see  their  chance, 

Don't  see  it  .  .  .  but  there's  some  that  does, 

Sees  it  plain  does  some  of  us.'' 

And  then  she  set  upon  him,  and — JJ'/io 

JVas  this  Jack  Pentreath  1  and  Nessy  Brew  ! 

Bless  her  smvl  then  !  was  he  blind  1 

Nessy  at  the  Ballaquine  ! 

Nessy  .  .  .  cravin  for  Jiim  !  Jack  1 

Nonsense  I  nonsense  !  just  a  pack 

Of  stuff  and  nonsense,  a  trick,  a  dodge 

To  (^et  to  he  with  Harry— fudge  ! 

Make  a  fool  of  him  1     No,  she  wudn, 

But  worshil>pin  the  ground  he  stood  on. 

Aw  she  worked  him  well,  till  the  chap  was  gapin 
Willi  his  mouth  like  an  oyster,  the  way  she  was  shapin 
The  fool  to  her  plan.     "  By  gough  !  "  says  Harry, 
"  I'll  try  it  this  night,  and  aisy — very — 
To  try — and  Sartinly  !  that's  it ! 
Buck  up  !  buck  up  a  bit ! 
And  hed  soon  see.     And  ///(//  little  black  imp 
To  be  coortin  Nessy  I  a  surt  of  a  shrimp 


THE  MANX  WITCH  93 

Of  a  cockcroach  coortin  Nessy  !     No  ! 
And — he-he-he  !  and  ho-ho-ho  ! 
"  It's  you,  Harry,  idikkilis  ! 

And  the  handsome  ye  are  !  and  give  me  a  kiss- • 

There  now,  Harry  !  and  spake  to  him,  will  ye  ! 
Spake  to  him  !  spake  to  him,  m'gilya  !  "  ^ 

Poor  Harry  !  aw  kissed  her  fair  and  fit, 
But  wiped  his  mouth,  and  gave  a  spit 
When  he  got  outside,  bein  freckened,  poor  chap  ! 
What  pison  'd  come  from  the  divil's  trap 
Of  a  mouth,  that  wasn  a  bad  mouth  ither — 
Not  ugly,  I  mean,  but  well-looked  rather. 

So  that  night  no  wutch ;  but  Nessy  like  chalk, 
And  Harry  first  goin  up  the  walk  : 
And — "Wait !  "  he  says  to  Jack,  "just  wait ! 
You  see,  I've  been  thinkin  a  dale  of  late. 
And  I  don't  know  azackly,  but  still  I'm  wantin 
To  have  a  understandin  or  sonthin  '"^ — 
A  understandin — that's  the  tee, 
A  understandin  is  it  you,  is  it  me. 

1  My  lad.  -  Something. 


94  THE  MANX  WITCH 

I'm  not  for  no  more  dooiney-mollerin, 

I've  had  enough  of  humbuggin  and  follerin  ; 

And  I've  raison  to  think — for  I've  heard  at  ^  them 

That  knows — tliat  Nessy  is  .  .  .  well  .  .  .  ahem  . 

Gettin  rather  fond — "     "  Of  you  ?  " 

Says  Jack ;  "  all  right !  that'll  do  !  that'll  do  !  " 

And  darts  to  the  windher,  and  just  a  word 

To  Nessy,  that  maybe  hardly  heard 

What  was  it  he  said,  the  treih "  she  was. 

Poor  thing !  and  turns,  and  gives  a  toss 

With  his  head.     "  Now  then,"  he  says,  "  now  then  ! 

I've  said  good-night :  down  glen  !  down  glen  ! 

This  must  be  looked  to."     And  the  fiery  he  spoke 

Poor  Harry  seen  it  wasn  no  joke, 

And  had  to  go.     And  directly  they  come 

Upon  the  road — nw.  sword  and  drum  ! 

At  it !  at  it !  tongue,  not  fisses — 

Jack's  tongue  mostly;  and  "  I  insisses," 

Says  Jack,  "  you'll  'splain  the  for  and  the  how. 

And  what  the  deuce  you're  meanin — now, 

Now,"  he  says,  "go  on  !  "     lUil  he  didn 

Wait  for  Marry,      "'i'urn  up  the  midden  ! 

'  From.  -  Sad. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  95 

Turn  it  up  !  "  he  says  ;  but  he  turned 

The  midden  up  hisself.     And  he  girned, 

And  he  stamped,  and  he  called  him  all  the  names 

That  ever  was  called.      And — Fire  and  flames  f 

What  was  this  ?     And —  JVas  he  mad'? 

Or  what  %uas  lie  ?      Was  it  a  divil  he  had  2 

Possessed!  was  that  if?  limb  from  iimb  ! 

Nessy  gettinfond  of  him  ! 

And — Aw  tlie  fool !  and  aw  the  ungrateful ! 

And — Aw  the  donkey  !  and  aiv  the  decateful ! 

And — Aiv  the  horrid  !  and  aw  the  hateful ! 

"  Me  that  was  lettin  ye  come  spoortin 

Under  the  shadder  of  my  coortin  ! 

Me  that  was  lettin  ye  see  the  white 

She  was  in  the  moon  !  and  standin  quite 

Near,  near  !     Didn  I  let  ye  ? 

And  feelin  her  breath — and  didn  I  set  ye 

To  spake  to  her  too  ?  and  what  could  ye  spake  ? 

And  warn't  ye  hangin  on  my  neck, 

And  her  face  agin  mine,  and  smellin,  smellin 

Love's  very  flower,  and  hearin  me  tellin 

The  deepest  saycrets  of  my  heart  ? 

And  never  to  stir  and  never  to  start, 


96  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  never  to  make  the  smallest  objection, 

But  delighted^  )e  said,  to  see  the  affection^ 

Ami  the  sweet  soft  coo  there  was  in,^  ye  said, 

//  was  music  fit  to  walr  tlic  dead — 

And  ticvcr  tired,  and  tit  for  tat, 

And  purrin  there  like  a  big  tom-cat 

The  satisfied  !     But  now  I  see  ! 

Is  it  you  7  or  is  it  me  1 

Listen  then,  if  you  want  to  know  ! 

It's  me,  you  thund'rin  lump  of  dough  ! 

You  ideit ! "  and  on  like  crazy. 

But  Harry  could  only  get  in  an  "  Aisy  ! " 

Now  and  then — "  Aisy  ! "'  he'd  say, 

"  Aisy  for  all !  "  lek  a  sort  of  a  way 

To  be  hum'rin  the  chap.     And  hotter  and  hotter ! 

Till  Harry  must  ha'  been  made  of  botter. 

Or  porridge  or  sonicthin,  if  he  could  have  bore 

The  jaw  any  longer.     .And  at  last  he  swore 

He  wouldn  stand  it,  and  took  and  gript 

This  Jack,  that  ducked,  and  dipt,  and  slipt, 

And  quivered,  and  danced ;  but  couldn  hould  him 

And  Jack  made  a  run  for  Harry,  and  bowled  him 

'  /;/  is  pleonastic. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  97 

Over  like  a  cock,  and  on  to  him, 

And  kep'  him  under,  that  was  aisy  done  to  him, 

Bein  heavy,  and  Jack  Hke  a  bull  pup, 

And  pinned  him,  and  wouldn  let  him  up 

Till  Harry  would  ax.     And  then  they  stood 

The  two  of  them  out  of  breath  :  and  the  blood 

From  Harry's  nose,  lek  after  an  action 

Two  ships.     And  "  You'll  give  me  satisfaction," 

Says  Harry — "  eh  ?  "     And — the  where  and  the  when. 

And  the  how.     "  At  the  mouth  of  the  Dragon's  den," 

Says  Jack ;  "  let's  see  which  '11  put  the  other 

Down  the  ould  pit,  and  finish  this  bother. 

For  you  know  d well  whichever  '11  lose 

That  bout,"  says  Jack,  "  he'll  have  a  long  snooze 
Down  there,  he  will.     Now  then,  d'ye  see  ! 
It's  death  !  it's  death  'twixt  you  and  me  ! 
Will  you  try  the  fall,  my  bloomin  boss  ? 
Hands  on  it,  Harry  !  "     So  it's  hands  it  was. 

The  very  next  night  no  coortin  in  ^ — 
No,  and  Nessy  wondherin — 
And  no  sooner  they  were  off  their  shiff" 

1  Going  on.  ^  Shift  (miner's  term),  time  underground. 

H 


98  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Than  the  two  of  them  there  to  cHmb  the  cliff 

Under  the  Dragon's  den,  that  was  high 

Up  the  mountain,  and  not  very  nigh 

To  the  new  workins — a  lonely  place, 

And  savage,  if  there  ever  was — 

An  ould  shaft  they'd  worked  out 

Long  ago,  and  nothin  about, 

No  timb'rin  nor  the  lek,  just  a  hole. 

And  fifty  fathom — no,  not  coal. 

Lead,  lead,  like  all  these  mines. 

And  worked  accordin  to  the  finds. 

And  when  they're  findin  nothin  more, 

They  never  don't  do  nothin  to  her 

To  make  her  safe,  no  more  till  a  quarry — 

So  that  was  the  spot  for  Jack  and  Harry. 

They  were  at  it  still  when  I  come  down 
From  the  side  of  Snaefell,  and  I'll  be  bound  — 
Mc  ?  yes,  me  ;  from  Sulby  over, 
Sulby  Claddagh — Tommy  Red-clover, 
They  were  callin  the  chap,  and  married  that  day, 
.And  a.xcd  to  the  wcddin,  and  couldn  stay, 
-And  the  sober  amazin.      So  on  and  on. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  99 

Souljerin  ^  lek,  and  thinkin  the  fun 

I  was  leavin  behind,  till  I  come  in  my  cruisin 

Where  the  Northside  gels  is  puttin  their  shoes  on 

When  they're  goin  to  Laxey  fair — 

Till  they  get  up  yandhar,  aw  bless  ye  !  as  bare 

As  an  egg  ;  but  there — aw  I've  seen  them  arrit  ^ 

Afore  now,  aw  I  have  !  and  some  like  a  carrot 

That  red,  and  others  like  white  stone 

The  smooth  and  the  shiny — but lave  it  alone  ! 

Comin,  I  tell  ye,  and  the  sun  was  set. 
And  the  moon  was  rose,  but  hidin  yet 
Aback  o'  Slieu  Lhean,  that  was  throwin  a  shaddhar 
Terble  black  below  me.     The  Laddhar 
They're  callin  that  slope.     And  I  had  to  steer 
Middlin  careful,-  you  know,  to  clear 
The  Dragon's  den.     So — no  humbuggin  ! 
I  thought  I  heard  a  despard  tuggin, 
No  thrashin,  no  smashin,  no  click  o'  the  clogs, 
No  trampin  like  bulls,  no  raggin  like  dogs. 
But  ugh-ugh-ugh,  like  the  chaps  is  goin 
When  they're  working  a  blast-hole — it's  lekly  you're  knowin — 

^  Sauntering.  "  At  it. 


loo  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Ugh-ugh-ugh I  didn  lek  it, 

I  tell  ye,  at  all — how  could  you  expeck  it  ? 

How  did  I  know  that  it  wasn  bogganes, 

That's  after  takin  ^  up  these  glens, 

Or  the  ould  chap  himself  with  some  of  his  friends 

Agate  of  their  shindies — aw,  might  have  been. 

Might !     But  I  crep  a  bit  nearer,  and  seen 

There  was  two  of  them  arrit ;  -  and  the  nearer  I  crep — 

Harry  !  Jack  \ 

Aw,  al  them  I  lep, 
At  them  !  on  them  !      "  Divils  !  divils  ! 
What's  this  ?  what's  this  ?  "'     But  they  turned  like  swivels. 
And  the  hank  was  givin  way,  and  the  muck 
Rattlin  down,  the  way  it's  shook 
On  a  coffin  at  a  funeral — 
And  the  two  of  them  twisted  like  a  ball— 
Couldn  get  them  out  of  grips, 
Couldn — and  Jack  to  stagger,  and  slips, 
And  Harry  swings  him  out  right  over 
The  mouth  of  the  pit,  and  could  hardly  recover 
Hisself ;  but  held  on — aw  didn  lei  go  ! 
Wouldn  ha'  done  it — no,  no,  no  ! 

'   Making  their  lunnl.  '  Al  it. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  loi 

Couldn,  for  the  matter  of  that ; 

For  Jack  was  stuck  to  him  Hke  a  rat 

To  a  terrier's  nose.      So  I  seen  my  chance, 

And  I  gript  this  Harry — "  Now  then,  once- —    . 

Twice — three  times  !  "  I  said,  and  these  rips 

Come  in  on  the  grass,  but  still  in  grips. 

And  I  couldn  have  done  it,  but  Harry  helped, 

And  glad  enough.     Aw,  navar  was  whelped 

A  good-natureder  chap  !     But  done  they  were, 

Done  complate,  aw,  done  I'll  swear — 

Not  the  half  of  a  breath  in  the  two  of  them. 

So  the  moon  come  up,  and  I  took  a  view  of  them— 

"  Well  you're  a  pair  of  beauties  !  "  I  says  ; 

"  Come  !  drop  these  grips  !     I  tell  ye  you'd  best !  " 

But  they  couldn,  no  !  they  could  only  lie 

In  each  other's  arms. 

And  Jack  gave  a  sigh. 
And  so  did  Harry :  but  I  got  some  water, 
And  I  slished  it  on  them.     And  Jack  held  tauter ' 
Till  Harry ;  but  at  last  they  were  sundhered, 
And  you'll  aisy  suppose  it's  me  that  wondhered 
What  divil's  work  they'd  had  in  hand ; 

^  Tighter. 


I02  THE   MANX   WITCH 

And,  as  soon  as  ever  they  could  stand, 

I  made  the  two  of  them  look  down 

The  shaft ;  and  they  seen  it  lighted  round 

Very  clear  with  the  moon,  that  was  shinin  brave 

And  full  by  now — "  If  you're  wantin  a  grave, 

You'd  batthar  spake  to  the  Clerk.  "  I  says, 

"  And  get  a  comfortabler  place 

Than  that,"  says  I  ;  "  it's  like  a  well 

Dug  down  to  the  deepest  depths  of  hell.  " 

And  it  really  looked  most  horrible. 

The  black  and  the  deep  !     And  Jack  to  shudder, 

And  turn  away  ;  and  Harry's  rudder 

Not  over  studdy,  but  aised,  it's  lek, 

Aised  in  his  mind. 

"And  now  be  quick, 
And  on  with  your  clothes  '  "     Vot  the  chaps  was  bare 
To  the  very  buff — aw  deed  they  were  ! 
And  the  moonlight  shinin  on  their  skin — 
These  naked  divils — astonishin  ! 
"  On  with  your  boots  and  your  clothes  !  "     Aw,  the  one  of 

them 
W'ouldn  resist  I  aw,  I  took  the  command  ol  ihem 
Fuss-rate,  I  tell  ye,  uncommon  though  ! 


THE   MANX  WITCH  103 

They  were  both  that  wake  and  'zausted,  ye  know  ; 
And  had  to  give  in. 

But  Jack  was  mad, 
And  wouldn  spake,  hke  sulks  he  had — 
Sullen,  sulky.     But  Harry,  so  soon 
As  he  got  his  wind  in  a  bit,  was  in  tune 
For  a  talk,  and  talked,  and  tould  me  the  row. 
And  he  said  they'd  been  at  it  from  seven  till  now ; 
And  what  time  would  that  be  ?     And  I  looked  at  my 

watch — 
The  best  of  two  hours  ! — "  Why  murder's  a  patch 
To  divils  like  you,"  I  says.     "  I  doubt 
It  was  swingin  in  and  swingin  out 
All  the  time,"  says  Harry,  "  wheelin 
Like  a  windmill,"  says  Harry,  "  toein-and-heelin, 
Despard  !  "  he  said.     And  him  to  be  houlin 
Jack  right  over,  and  rowlin  and  rowlin, 
But  wouldn  dhrop  Jmn — no  !  but  try' 71 
To  haul  him  back  from  the  mouth  of  the  mine. 
But  Md  stick  his  feet  agin  the  bank. 
And  stiffen  his  body  like  a  plank 
("I  see  ye,"  I  says),  and  ditch  and  clutch, 
Atid  all  along  of  a  dirty  wutch. 


I04  THE   MANX   WITCH 

"  A  dirty  wutch  1  what's  that  you  say  ?  " 
(Jack  spoke  at  last).     "  Round  turn  and  belay  ! " 
Says  I  to  Harry  :  "  hould  on  at  that ! 
That's  somethin  like  business — I  know  the  cat  ! 
Now,"  I  says,  "let's  hear  it,  my  son !" 
Which  immadient  Harry  done. 
Says  he — "  She  tould  me  that  Nessy  Brew 
Was  lovin  me  far  more  than  you." 

Jack  danced.  Jack  danced — half  joy,  half  rage, 
Clasps  Harry  round  the  neck,  ril  engage. 
Like  the  hangman's  hug,  and  cried  and  cried, 
And  kissed  him,  first  on  the  one  side, 
And  then  on  the  other,  as  cjuick  as  a  treadle — 
And  Harry's  big  face  as  round  as  a  griddle, 
And  the  wondhrin  there  !     "  I  see  it !  I  see  it !" 
Says  Jack,  "  of  coorse  !"     And  a  scream  like  a  pewhit ; 

And tlie  divil  might  ^vVr  /ler  a  longish  tether^ 

But  blmu  him  .'  hed  be  ei'cn  with  her. 

\Vell,  I  got  them  down  to  the  washin  floors 
Very  friendly  ;  and  then  these  cures 
Begun  a  scliacinin  what  would  they  plan — 


THE  MANX  WITCH  105 

And —  Would  they  try  the  Ballawhane  ?  ^ 
And  axin  me.     "  Aw,  that's  no  use 
At  all,"  I  says  :  "  it's  the  very  deuce," 
I  says,  "this  wutchin — the  horriderse"  goin, 
Black,  yes,  black."     But  sure  they  were  knowin 
,  The  Ballawhane  was  workin  the  white  ? 
"  Aw,  diffrin,  bless  ye  !  diffrin  quite  ! 
Lek  cows  and  that— and  gives  you  some  sperrit. 
Or  harbs  in  a  bottle ;  and  as  soon  as  you'll  gerrit  ^ 
In  your  fiss,  the  baste,  that's  very  lekly 
Miles  away,  is  batthar  toreckly.'* 
Aw  I've  seen  the  ould  chap,  and  the  big  book 
And  the  wise  he'll  talk,  and  the  solium  he'll  look — 
Aw,  diffrin,  aw,  that's  understood — 
Aw,  doin  good,  doin  good  ! 
Aw,  bless  ye  !  the  Ballawhane  to  wutch  her  ! 
Goodness  grayshers  !  he  couldn  touch  her  ! 
Wutchin  a  wutch  !  aw,  there's  no  sanse, 
Sartinly  not !     Now,  a  little  expanse," 
I  says,  "  and  you'll  do  her ;  yes,  you  will  ! 
Do  her  as  nice  as  pozzible — 

^  A  celebrated  herb  doctor.  -  Horridest. 

3  Get  it.  "  Directly. 


io6  THE   MANX   WITCH 

Ned  Kissack's  gun — I  know  he'd  lend  her— 
Now  then,"  I  says,  "what's  goin  to  hcndcr 
But  we'll  make  a  silver  bullet  for  her — 
A  silver  bullet — there  you've  gorrer  ! ' 
Melt  some  shillins — that's  the  way  I 
'Spansivc  ?  yes,  but  bound  to  pay  ! 
That's  your  surt !     Now,  let's  go  spy'n 
The  hedges  on  the  Ballaquine, 
And  along  to  the  Gill ;  and  see  if  a  hare 
Or  the  Ick  is  often  takin  there — 
The  wutch — as  sure  as  eggs  is  eggs, 
Fire  at  her  legs  !  fire  at  her  legs  ! 
And  she'll  disappear  :  but  lo  and  behould  ! 
Up  to  the  Gill !  and — Makin  so  bould, 
Hoiv  are  ye,  Mrs..  Banks,  this  viornin  ? 
Aw,  limpin  !  aw,  I  give  you  warnin  ! 
Limpin  !  of  coorse — or  a  surt  of  a  hop — 
Limpin,  aye  limpin  all  over  the  shop. 
A  silver  l)ullet — eh  ?     Jack,  my  hearty  I 
That's  the  way  lo  fix  the  party." 

So  wc  settled  to  try,  and  I  down  with  my  shillin, 
'  Got  her. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  107 

Lek  contributin — ^aw  puffeck  willin  ! 
Contributin — lek  these  meetins  they've  got, 
Andi  goUy^  this  f  and  golly  that  I — 
Missionaries — and  round  with  the  hat — 
'Cited  rather — -and  who  would  blame  ? 
And  longin  to  be  at  the  game. 

"But,"  says  Harry,  "  wutchin,  I'll  allow; 
But  me  or  Jack  ?  " — "  It's  Nessy  now, 
Nessy,"  I  says ;  "aw  that's  the  warp 
She's  agate  of  now  ;  so  you'd  batthar  look  sharp." 

So  we  got  the  shillins,  and  we  got  the  gun, 
And  we  got  a  mould,  and  tuk  and  run 
A  bullet  as  big  as  a  hymenanny,^ 
Fit  to  dhrop  the  divil's  granny. 
And  started  a  hare  the  first  thing ; 
And  Jack  let  dhrive,  and  she  made  a  spring. 
And  away  in  the  goss.     "  Hit !  hit !  "  says  I, 
"  Hit  in  the  thigh  !  hit  in  the  thigh  !  " 
And  up  to  the  Gill  the  way  we  planned ; 

^  Some  faint  echo  of  an  anecdotic,  nigger-dialectic  "  deputation." 

"  A  large  shell. 


io8  THE  MANX  WITCH 

And  there  was  Mrs.  Banks  as  grand 

As  grand.     And — "What  procures  me  the  honour 

Of  this  visit  ? "     A  reg'lar  Primer  Donner — 

Aw,  it's  her  that  could.     And  "We  want  no  talk, ' 

Says  Jack,  " but  just  let's  see  you  walk.' 

Aw,  she  up  and  made  a  run  at  us, 
And  we  cut  like  the  mischief;  and  she  gave  a  cuss ; 
And  then  she  laughed  like  fit  to  split — 
*'  She  was  never  hit !  she  was  never  hit ! " 
Says  Jack.     "  No  !  no  !  "  says  I.  -  111  swear 
There's  no  mistake  you  hit  the  hare. 
But  that  ould  caillagh  dim  ! '  what  nex' ! 
Treminjis  wutchin,  xxx  !  " 

And  right  I  was  ;  for  there's  wutches  in 
That  actual  don't  care  a  pin 
Not  even  for  a  silver  bullet. 
It's  lek  they've  got  an  art  to  pull  it 
Aslant  some  way — aw  black  as  tar ! 
Black  !  bla(  k  '  Ii1.t(  k  !  so  there  you  arc  ! 

And  was  the  coortiti  mrr  and  done  ? 
*  JJl.ick  witch. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  109 

No,  but,  the  winter  comin  on, 

It  had  to  be  in  the  house,  you  see ; 

And  the  dooiney-molla  for  company 

For  ould  Brew,  that  liked  him  well — 

This  Harry.     And  sometimes  they'd  take  a  spell 

At  the  paper  they  got,  the  Sun,  or  the  Times, 

Or  Mona's  Harral"^ — latthars,  rhymes, 

Speeches — not  much  odds  to  them 

What  they  had.     And  the  ould  chap's  hem  ! 

Ahem  !  dear  me  !  and  rubbin  and  rubbin 

His  specks ;  and  the  two  of  them  goin  a  clubbin 

Their  heads  together ;  but  couldn  make  much  of  it — 

Ould  Brew,  it's  lek,  could  make  some  surt  of  Dutch  of  it ; 

But  Harry  could  only  scratch  his  nut — • 

Didn  know  B  from  a  bull's  foot. 

And — "Can  you  see  it,  Harry?"  and  Harry  pretendin. 

And — hadn  azackly  got  his  hand  in, 

No — and  another  rub  on  his  sleeve 

At  Brew,  and  eyein,  and  luhat  to  believe  1 

And — tvas  Harry  himbuggin  ?  and  'spicious  rather ; 

And  then  he'd  dhrop  it  altogether. 

But  Harry  could  look,  and  Harry  could  smook, 

1  Herald. 


iio  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Aw,  bless  yc !  company  for  a  duke 

Was  Harry — fuss-rate  !     He'd  a  trick  of  spittin 

He  lamed  of  me,  thought  nothin  of  hittin 

A  fly  on  the  wall,  or  a  spark  in  the  chimbley, 

Any  distance  you  like,  the  nimbly 

You  never  saw.     And  the  buzz  and  the  bizz 

And  the  'twixt  his  teeth,  and  the  fo'ce  and  the  fizz 

Like  fireworks  mostly  ;  and  his  mouth  like  a  flute, 

All  to  make  the  puffcck  skute  ^ — 

For  a  chap  from  Dalby  that  way — eh  ? 

You'd  hardly  think  now — what  did  ye  say  ? 

Learnt  frotn  vie  7     But  a  splendid  scholar, 

Aw,  bless  ye  !  baetin  his  masthar  holler — 

Yes,  he  did,  aw  beat  complately — 

Beat ;  and  amusin  the  old  man  greatly. 

"  Hit  the  rose  on  the  side  of  that  mug  ! " 

Or  "  Spit  through  the  handle  of  yandhar  jug 

r)n  the  dresser  there  !  "  or  "  Make  a  ring 

Round  yandhar  cup  ! "     He'd  do  the  thing, 

Would  Harry,  five  times  out  of  six. 

But  Nessy  didn  like  such  tricks  ; 

And  she'd  say— "  Now  what  are  ye  after  there? 

'  .S(|uirl. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  ixi 

Behave,  behave  now,  Henry  Creer  ! " 

And  Harry  to  look  a  bit  to  one  side, 

And  Brew  to  laugh  till  he  fairly  cried. 

"  What's  the  use  o'  talkin  !  chat !  ^ 

Jack  couldn  do  that !  Jack  couldn  do  that," 

The  ould  man  would  say,  and  "  I  hope  he  cudn," 

Nessy  would  say,  "  and  I  hope  he  wudn. 

And  even  if  so  be  it's  allowed  of, 

It's  nothin  to  be  so  very  proud  of; 

No  !  "  and  she  wasn  takin  the  huff ! 

And  some  people s  maimers  was  i7iiddlin  rough. 

I  believe  in  my  heart  the  poor  gel  was  ailin 
All  over  some  way,  like  a  surt  of  a  failin. 
Yes,  even  her  temper  a  little  touched — 
Wictched  ? — did  ye  say,  of  coorse  she  was  wutched. 
And  wutched  bad ;  why,  a  sweeter  gel 
Or  a  gennaler "  never  bruk  the  shell. 
Nat'ral  lovin,  nat'ral  wishin 
To  be  kind,  aw  a  beautiful  dispogition. 
But  now  she  was  often  quick  and  cross, 
Sharp  and  short  lek — no,  not  sauce, 

1  Tut.  2  More  genial. 


112  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Not  that !  not  that  I  but  lek  she'd  been  goin 
Awakin  up  sudden,  and  hardly  knowin 
Where  was  she  at  all ;  and  the  white  her  face  ! 
And  when  Jack  was  puttin  his  arm  round  her  waist, 
She'd  start  like  needles  runnin  through  her, 
And  away  from  him,  and  get  to  the  door. 
And  look  out,  and  come  back,  and  her  eyes  to  stare 
Like  seein  somethin  that  wasn  there — 
Despard  uncomfible  !  aw,  despard  ! 
But  special  for  Jack  ;  for,  if  he  whispered 
In  her  ear — the  way  they  will. 
Lovers — or  squeezed  her  hand  a  lill  ' 
(And  all  in  raison),  she  looked  that  scar'd 
And  that  frcckcncd,  or  else  that  stiff  and  that  hard, 
That  Jack  was  nearly  out  of  his  mind. 
And  Brew  would  see,  and  pretend  to  be  plyin 
His  spells— y/«/  sovte  of  their  little  tiffs, 
Thinks  Brew,  and  drops  the  paper,  and  sniffs  ; 
And  "(Jood-night !"  he'd  say,  and  '"Deed  I've  read 
Till  I'm  tired  urrov-massy,"  -  and  off  to  bed — 
"They'll  be  makin  it  up  all  right,"  thinks  Brew, 
'•  When  they're  left  to  theirselves.  "     But  wouldn  do. 
'   Little.  '  Out  of  mercy  =  excccdinijly. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  113 

For  Harry  would  fall  asleep,  the  baste, 
And  a  big  slop  of  a  smile  all  over  his  face, 
And  snore  like  the  roots  of  ragin  thundher ; 
And  Nessy  vexed,  and  'deed  no  wondher, 
That  was  used  of  the  ould  man's  hollabaloo. 
But  didn  like  Harry's.     And  "  I'll  go  too," 
She'd  say  ;  and  the  loud  this  Harry  roort  ^ 
It  raelly  wasn  fit  to  coort — 
You  know  the  terble  distressin  it  is. 
So  Jack  to  get  some  sort  of  a  kiss, 
Very  skim-milky,  very  could  ! 
And  wakes  up  Harry,  and  off,  poor  sowl ! 

But  the  wuss  of  this  wutch  was  Nessy  was  fond  of  her, 
For  of  coorse  she  was  gettin  the  upper  hand  of  her 
With  the  wutchin.     But  that  wasn  all,  not  a  bit ! 
Fascernatin,  is  that  it  ? 
Aw,  you  may  call  it  any  name, 
Comedher,  'tractin,^  all  the  same. 
You  see,  she  was  used  of  her  from  a  chile. 
And,  by  gough,  the  woman  had  a  style 
That  was  off  the  common,  knowin  hapes 

^  Roared.  ^  Attracting. 


114  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Of  sin,  I  doubt ;  and  been  in  scrapes 

And  scrapes,  it's  Ick.     But  a  surt  of  a  llash  with  her, 

And  a  cut,  and  a  never-say-die,  and  a  dash  with  her. 

That  was  seemin  grand  to  a  country  gel 

Like  Nessy,  aye.     And  the  stories  she'd  tell, 

Dear  me  !  and  the  'spcrience  she  had, 

And  the  riddles  and  witty  things  that  she  said. 

And  Nessy,  ye  see,  that  innocent, 

She  didn  twig  the  divilment — 

Muck,  man,  muck,  goin  mixed  with  spice. 

But  divilment,  no  matter  the  nice, 

Like  some  of  these  flowers  you'll  feed  your  eyes  on. 

Feed  your  belly  ? — look  out  for  pizon. 

A  bad  stick  !  a  bad  stick  ! 
But  terble  bright ;  and  'd  give  a  slick 
Of  a  polish  lek  to  all  her  stuff, 
And  knew  who  she  had,  and  'd  hould  her  luff,' 
Manoeuvcrin  accordintly  : 
The  woman  was  fuss-rate  company — 
That's  the  words — not  mine  ;  no  !  no  ! 
Me?  in  a  woman?     High  or  low, 

'  Knew  how  to  steer. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  115 

Young  or  ould^I  beg  to  state  it — 
The  lek  of  yandhar  I  hate  it,  I  hate  it ! 

Fast  she  was — aw  botheration  ! 
She'd  been  in  England  in  a  sitchuation. 
Lady's  maid,  or  something  o'  the  surt — 
They're  pickin  up  a  dale  of  dirt 
And  mischief  is  them,  aw  I'll  be  bail ! 
And  draggin  it  behind  their  tail, 
When  they're  comin  back  to  the  Isle  of  Man— 
Aw,  bless  ye  !  I  know  them,  I  know  them  :  bad  scran 
To  the  lek,  says  I.     They're  callin  it  life : 
But  a  gel  that's  to  make  an  honest  wife 
For  an  honest  man,  for  a  chap  that's  worth, 
He'd  better  give  them  a  wide  berth. 

But  of  coorse  she  was  seemin  a  terble  swell 
To  Nessy,  pretendin  to  feel  with  the  gel, 
Understandin  all  that  was  at  her  ^ 
In  her  very  sowl ;  and  chitter-chatter 
About  lovers  and  love.     Aw,  Nessy  thought 
It  was  beautiful !  and  the  way  she  brought 

^  All  that  she  had. 


Ii6  THE   MANX   WITCH 

Everything  to  the  one  stress, 

Like  floodin  her  heart  with  happiness. 

And  the  poethry  !  aw  dear,  the  nice  ! 

And  could  sing — aw,  bless  ye  !   a  fine  deep  vice. 

And  whatever  she  said,  or  whatever  she  sung, 

Had  it  at  the  tip  of  her  tongue. 

Now  Nessy  was  a  gel  that  had  got 
A  good  head  on  her  shouldhers,  whether  or  not. 
She  was  puttin  very  pretty  talk  urrov  ^  her ; 
But  thinkin  her  aunt  was  nobbier  far 
Till  her ;  lek  much  more  spicier  ; 
Lek  up-to-the-rigs.     And,  you  never  can  tell. 
There's  a  bit  of  the  divil  in  every  gel — 
Aw,  there's  no  mistake  they've  gorrit," 
Yes,  they  have,  and  bless  them  for  it ! 

But  t/iiil  drunken  ould  brute  1     Now  aisy  !  aisy  ! 
I  know  she  wasn  azackly  a  daisy 
Of  the  field,  this  ould  skunk  ; 
But  still  she  wasn  always  drunk. 
.\nd  these  fiighty  people  '11  have  a  go  with  them, 

»  Out  of.  '  Got  il. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  117 

Bless  my  sowl !  a  kind  of  glow  with  them, 
Like  fine  ould  rum  or  somethin,  is  it  ? 
Stirs  you  up,  warms  your  gizzit  ^ — 
Potes  is  Hke  that,  and  fiddlers  is, 
Play-acthors,  singers,  circusis — 
They'll  put  a  pinch  of  somethin  tasty 
In  coortin  and  everything — don't  be  hasty  ! 
Fond  of  liquor  !  I  don't  deny  it — 
Special  when  they  haven  to  buy  it- 
Poor  sowls ! 

But  hoio  could  Nessy  be  longin 

For  the  woman  that There  you  go  ding-dongin  ! 

Who  talked  of  longin  ?     But  the  cruel  she  trailed  her 

About  the  ring,  you'd  thhik  she'd  ha'  hated  her. 

Well  lerrit  ^  be  wutchin,  if  you  choose, 

And  nothin  but  wutchin — I  don't  refuse. 

But  maybe  there's  curiouser  wrinkles 

Till  wutching  even,  my  pennywinkles  ! 

But  drop  it !  drop  it ! 

Now  Jack  was  a  caution  ! 
What  d'ye  think  !  he  tuk  a  notion 
He'd  have  the  law  of  her  !     "  Isn  there  laws 

^  Gizzard.  "  Let  it. 


iiS  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Agin  wutches?"  says  Jack,  "Til  trim  lier  claws; 

I'll  go  and  see  Kinley  aburrit  ^  at  once." 

He  might  as  well  have  gone  to  France. 

Says  Kinley — "  Do  ye  think  I'm  a  d d  fool  ?  " 

Says  Jack,  "  Well,  no,  sir,  not  of  a  rule — 

But  isn  it  law  for  a  wutch  to  be  rowlin 

Down  a  brew '  in  a  barrel,  and  bumpin  and  bowlin 

Over  the  rocks,  and  nails  that  teases 

And  rags  and  cuts  her  all  to  pieces — 

Pintin  innards  ?     Lek  they  done  at  Slieu  Whallion  ■' 

Afore  now.     Well,  we've  got  an  ould  rapscallion 

At  Laxdale.  ..."     But  Kinley  got  dcspard  impatien' — 

"Well  then,  would  it  be  sufTayshin' 

To  burn  her  ?  "  says  Jack.     "  Be  off,  you  brute  ! '" 

Says  Kinley,  "  you  donkey  !  you  thundh'rin  toot  I  " 

"  Is  that  your  'pinion  ?  and  what  are  ye  chargin  ?  " 

Says  Jack.     .My  gough  !  you  may  aisy  imargin 

Ould  Kinley !  and  turns  to  the  clerks,  and  he  roors — 

"  Pack  this  bumpkin  out  of  doors  ! " 

And  bundled  out  like  a  sack  o'  potatis — 

Says  Jack — "I've  gor''  a  'pinion  gratis." 

'  About  it.  -'  Hill. 

'  A  mountain  nonr  1'.  .1,  in  the  Lslc  of  .Man  ;  the  legend  referred  to 
is  well  known.  *  .Suflficicnt.  "  Got. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  119 

So  it  was  woe  Bethsaida  !  woe  Chorazin  ! 
"Jack,"  says  I,  "will  you  go  to  the  Pazon  ? 
You've  had  a  shot  at  mostly  everything  posbil, 
You've  tried  the  law,  let's  try  the  gospel. 
Let's  go  to  church  to-morrow,"  I  said, 
"  And  hear  the  Pazon  goin  ahead. 
And  after  he's  done  the  sarvice  we'll  foller  him 
Into  the  house,  and  then  we'll  collar  him." 
So  the  three  of  us  went — that's  Jack  and  me, 
And  Harry  !  yes,  Harry,  unfortnitly — 
I  wasn  much  used  of  church,  I'll  confess. 
Not  them  times — -aw,  younger,  yes — 
In  the  Quire,  and  the  Pazon  theer — 
Good  Lord  !  how  I  loved  him  !  aw  dear,  aw  dear  ! 
But  knockin  about,  and  often  at  say. 
Aw,  a  lill  church  '11  go  a  long  way. 

But  still  I  was  useder  till  Harry,  that  never 
Went  to  any  place  whatever — 
A  reg'lar  haythen  surt  of  a  chap, 
Lek  these  Dalby  fellows  is  very  ap',^ 
Ap'  enough — and  hadn  no  notion 

1  Apt  (to  be). 


I20  THE  MANX  WITCH 

How  to  behave,  and  a  surt  of  a  ocean 

Of  spit  at  this  divil ;  the  whole  of  the  pew 

Nearly  swimmin — aw  it's  true  !  it's  true  ! 

And  'd  mark  some  speck  in  the  grain,  or  a  knot 

In  the  timber,  and  fire  a  splandid  shot. 

I  know  he  could  do  it — of  coorse  he  could — 

Bless  ye  !  that  was  understood. 

And  I  warned  him  once,  and  I  warned  him  twice- 

I  did,  I  did  !  and  it  isn  nice. 

No  it  isn,  in  church,  ch  ?  what? 

It's  a  dirty,  savage  thing  is  that. 

The  Clerk's  wife  had  to  clanc  it  out 

Agin  the  next  Sunday — trcniinjus  stout 

That  woman  was — and  then  the  churchwardens — 

Kneale  Ballagill,  and  Stole  the  (hardens — 

Made  a  presantment — is  that  it  ? 

That  they  couldn  pozzibly  do  with  spit 

In  the  church  like  yandhar  ;  but  just  to  annoy 

The  Pazon,  because  he  was  takin  joy 

Of  the  Icks  of  me — I  knew  them,  blow  them  ! 

And  so  did  everybody  know  them. 

iJut  however  wc  got  him  middlin  quite  ^ 

'  Quiet. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  121 

Sittin  there.     I  took  a  delight 

To  hear  the  Pazon  readin  the  sarvice ; 

Lek,  you  know,  a  hll  bit  narvous — 

Aw,  beautiful !     For  praechin — - —  well 

I  was  likin  him  terrible ; 

But  others  was  sayin  he  hadn  the  power  : 

And  of  coorse  he  cudn  go  on  by  the  hour 

Like  these  Locals  and  that,  nor  he  cudn  shout 

And  rag,  and  fling  his  arms  about 

Like  a  windmill  theer,  and  his  body  goin  drivin 

Half  urrov  ^  the  pulpit — and  how  they're  contrivin 

To  keep  their  balance  God  only  knows. 

And  sweatin  and  stranglin  in  their  clothes 

Most  awful  they  are  ;  and  "  Awake  !  awake  ! 

Ye  sinners  !  "  and  roors.     But  delicake — • 

That  was  the  Pazon — not  raw,  but  ripe. 

And  mallow,  like  berries,  like  a  aisy  pipe. 

That  draws  like  a  baby  the  smooth  it's  goin — 

There's  some  that's  bad  to  rattle  and  groan 

Boosely — what  ?  just  wantin  clanin — 

Aye  !     But  the  Pazon  that  putty "  strainin 

Like  God  was  takin  him  for  a  flute, 

1  Out  of.  -  Pretty. 


122  THE  MANX  WITCH 

And  playin  on  him — tootlc-tootl 

Not  Him  !  but  lovely  music,  clear 

And  sweet.     You'd  think,  if  you  could  hear 

An  angel  sniilin,  it  'd  be  rather 

Like  that what  ?     "  I'll  go  to  my  father," 

It's  sayin  theer,  "and  sinned,"  d'ye  see  ! 

"Against  Heaven,"'  aye  !  "and  before  thee, 

And  no  more  worthy  to  be  callin 

Thy  son."     And  "  Dearly  beloved,"  and  fallin 

Down  on  their  knees.     And  "  no  health  in  us," 

And  "  lost  sheep,"  and  wuss  and  wuss. 

And  then  the  Pazon  on  his  own  hook. 

And  the  solium,  and  the  lovely  look 

On  his  dear  ould  face — and  the  sun  of  a  tenor, 

And  "  desireth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner  " — 

Like  just  a  mosscl  higher — aye  ! 

Aw  fit  to  make  a  body  cry — • 

Fit  enough  ;  and  saftcr  ^  and  saftcr, 

And  "  that  the  rest  of  our  life  hereafter "" 

My  gough  !  like  drops  upon  a  wound. 
And  all  "through  Jesus,"  you'll  be  bound. 

»  Softer. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  123 

The  way  he  had !  the  way  he  had  ! 
Say  the  words  now,  Janies,  good  lad  ! 
Say  them  !  try  ! — you  can't  ?  no,  no  ! 
Nor  you,  nor  the  one  of  us.      We  must  turn  to 
And  be  Hke  the  Pazon,  that's  it,  Jem- 
Innocent  and  pure  hke  hhn. 

But  O  the  hard  !  O  night  and  day  ! 
"  O  Lamb  of  God,  that  takest  away 
The  sins  of  the  world,  have  mercy  upon  us  ! " 
(Kneel,  men,  kneel !)  "  have  mercy  upon  us  !  " 

"  O  Christ,  hear  us  ! 

O  Christ,  hear  71  s  ! 

Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us  ! 

Lord,  have  Jiiercy  upon  us  I 

Christ,  have  mercy  upon  us  ! 

Christ,  have  mercy  up07i  us  ! 

Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us  ! 

Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us  !  " 
(Silence  for  a  time.) 
I'll  go  on.     The  service  was  over  for  sure, 
And  then  we  in  on  the  back  door, 
And  axed  would  the  Pazon  see  us  two, 


124  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Not  Harry  of  coorse,  that  cudn  do 
With  the  like  o'  yandhar,  hadn  the  wit  in — 
Bless  ye !  a  good-sized  field  to  spit  in 
Was  Harry's  notion,  and,  rocks  or  reels, 
The  Pazon's  fields  was  beautiful  fields. 

But  the  Pazon  was  in  his  study  theer, 
Sittin  in  the  arm-cheer, 
And  the  servant  brought  the  two  of  us  in, 
And  sniffed,  and  cut,  but  lizzenin 
Outside  no  doubt,  aw,  lizzened, 
Aw,  as  sure  as  she  was  chrizzened — 
Bless  ye  !  how  could  she  help  it — eh  ? 
Just  natheral,  as  you  may  say — 
Natheral.      So — "  Pazon,"  I  says, 
"  Here's  Jack  Pentreath,  that'll  not  take  rest 
About  wutches,"  I  says ;  and  I  up  and  tould 
All  the  jccl ;  ^  and  the  Pazon  to  fould 
His  bands  in  a  book,  and  as  aisy  as  aisy, 
And  no  hurry  whatever ;  and  Jack  half  crazy, 
And  "do  on  then,  Tom  !  go  on  !  go  on  !  " 
And  cudn  wait  till  I  was  done; 

'  Damage,  trouble. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  125 

Like  a  thunderstorm  !  aw  fire  and  hail ! 
And  "Yes,  Pazon  Gale  !  "  and  "  No,  Pazon  Gale  !  " 
And  lovin  Nessy,  atid  Nessy  him, 
And  as  happy  as  Jerusalem, 
Till  this  dirt  begun  her  diviPs  tricks, 
And  linitchin  the  gel,  "  and  puttin  betwix 
Hal  Creer  and  me,"  he  says,  "thai  was  allis 
The  best  of  friends  ; "  and  the  gallis,  the  gallis 
Was  too  good  for  the  lek,  and  if  they  got 
Their  rights,  its  lek  they  d find  it  hot — 
"Hot,"  he  says,  "rather  hot,  rather  hot," 
Says  Jack  ;  but  however,  and  whether  or  not. 
They'd  get  it  at  last  aback  of  the  bars 
Of  hell,  these  diviTs  sassingers, 
Fryin,  yes  !     Bid  coidd  nothin  be  done 
Afore  that  to  stop  their  carry  in  on  ? 
And — "  Look  here,  Pazon,  here's  a  go  ! 
Think  of  Nessy — as  pure  as  the  snow, 
And  as  sweet  that  shuggar  cudn  be  sweeter. 
And  this  ould  scoundhrel,  this  ould  blue  Peter 
Of  a  rag  of  a  vagabone  to  pizon 
The  loveliest  craythur  ye  ever  set  eyes  on  ! 
Pizon  I  pizon  !  sartinly  ! 


126  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Body  and  sowl — machrce  !  ^  machree  ! 

Pazon,  Pazon  !  it  shudn  be  ! 

It  shudn  !  it  shudn  ! "— "  What  pizon  then  ?  " 

Says  the  Pazon,  '•  what  pizon  is  it  that's  in, 

Jack?"  he  says.     "You  surely  don't  think 

She's  givin  Nessy  stuff  to  drink, 

Harbs  or  the  lek  ?  "— "  No,  no  !  "  says  Jack ; 

"  My  gough  !  she's  on  another  tack 

Altogether.     What  odds'  the  drinkin  ?- 

Pizonin,  pizonin  like  winkin ; 

Sartinly  !  "  not  givin ^  but  doin^ 

That  was  it — at  the  full  moon — 

Harbs — and  what  7c>as  to  hindhcr  her?  d it / 

(The  Pazon  looked  funny.)     Did  he  think  they'd  ram  it 
Down  a  gel's  throat?     Afy  gough  !  what  sense  ? 
"  Harbs  !  charms  !  did  ye  ever? — go  to  France  ! " 
"  Now  Jack,"  I  says,  "  you'll  spake  rcspactful 
To  thu  Pazon,"  I  says.     "  Harbs  !  many  a  sackful 
Pve  seen  at  her,"  says  Jack  ;  "  but  dose 
And  drug  the  gel ! — Hut  the  Pazon  knows 
Of  coorse — no  frankincense  nor  myrrh 
Wasn  that ;  and  ask  your  pardon,  sir — 
'   My  heart.  -  What  difi'crcncc  does  the  drinking  make  ? 


THE   MANX  WITCH  127 

Brewin,  that's  it !  and  these  divil's  birds, 

And  the  evil  eye,  and  sayin  the  words. 

And  the  strength,  and  the  steam,  and  the  black  art — 

And  lawyers — bless  ye  !  takin  their  part — 

Lawyers — much  on  the  same  hand. 

But  the  Pazon's  the  man  !  the  Pazon's  the  man  ! 

Eh,  Tom  ?     Let  the  Pazon  go  to  work  ! 

That's  the  boy  that'll  draw  their  cork  !  "  ^ 

"  Respactful,"  I  says,  "  then,  Jack,  if  ye  plaise ; 

Respactful,  respactful !  "     And  the  Pazon  to  raise 

His  eyes  a  bit ;  and — "  Do  you  believe 

In  this  nonsense  ?  "  he  says ;  and  lek  to  reeve 

A  surt  of  a  laugh  through  his  shouldhers  lek. 

And — -"Thomas,"  he  says,  "aw  well  I'd  expeck 

Better  of  you."—"  What  for  then,  Pazon  ?  " 

Says  I,  "  if  you'll  excuse  me  as'in." 

But  Jack  gave  no  time— "A  Bible  !  "  he  says, 
"  A  Bible  !  a  Bible  !  chapter  and  vess  ! 
Here  you  are  !  do  you  want  to  make  fun  of  me  ?  " 
And  the  leaves  goin  flyin,  and  "  Deuteronomy," 
And — A  wutch  shall  be  put  to  death — very  well ; 
1  Triumph  over  them. 


128  THE   MANX  WITCH 

And  whips  him  over  to  Samuel — 

"  Wutches  :  "  he  says,  "all  right !  all  right  ! 

And  risin  the  ould  man  in  the  dead  of  the  night, 

Ordered  at  ^  Saul,  ordered  at  Saul — 

Sartinly,  and  hadn  no  call. 

Not  the  laste."— "The  witch  of  Endor," 

Says  the  Pazon ;  and  "  Ves  !  and  how  he'd  befriend  her, 

And  no  punishment,  he  says  ;  and  look  ! 

Look  here  !"  says  Jack,  and  shoves  the  book 

Under  the  Pazon's  vcrv  nose, 

"  Look  here,  man  !   look  !   and  Samuel's  ghose 

Ascendin  urroi'  the  earth — see,  see  ! 

Like  gods." — "  You're  makin  very  free, 

Jack,"  I  says  ;    "  respactful  now  ! 

Respactful,  will  ye  !  " — "  Stop  your  row  ! 

Says  Jack.       "  Lek  gods,  it's  sayin — what  ? 

Eh,  Pazon  ?      liut  Samuel  gev  it  him  hot, 

Didn  he,  I'nzcjn?     llcv  ye  forgot? 

Lizzcn,  lizzen  !  vess  "  twenty-two  ; 

And  she  made  him  ate  his  supper  too — 

To  be  sure  ! 

'iwcnty-thrcc,  twenty-four— 

'  Uy.  ^  Verse. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  129 

Afid  she  /lasted  and  killed  a  fat  calf- — 
See,  see  !  and  unleavened  bread  thereof — 
There  ye  are  !  went  away  that  night — 
Fuss  ^  of  Samuel,  twenty-eight. 
Now  then  !  now  then  !     N't-)  wutches,  eh  ? 
No  wutches,  Pazon  ?     Is  that  what  you  say  ? 
In  the  Bible  ?  "     And  goodness  grayshers  I 
What  was  the  gud  0'  Pazons  and  praechers, 
If  they  were  gain  a  defiyin  the  vety  texes 
In  the  Bible  itself?  "     And — "  The  laste  ye  expecks  is 
Give  in  to  the  Bible  !  "     And  the  Pazon  smilin 
Very  paceful.     "  Well,  don't  be  vi'len' !  "  - 
Says  the  Pazon,  "but  let  me  'splain  the  thing." 
Aw  Jack  to  sulk,  and  Jack  to  fling — 
And  tuhat  was  these  Pazons  but  all  a  sham  ? 
And  didn  care  a  twofemzy  d — n  ! 

"Be  quite  !  "  I  says,  "be  quite  now,  Jack  ! 
Look  here  !  we'll  have  no  disrespack 
To  Pazon  Gale  !     No  cussin  here  ! 
No  cussin  before  the  Pazon,  theer  !  " 
'Deed  I  spoke  savage ;  for,  traycle  or  hotter,^ 

^  First.  -  Violent.  ^  Treacle  or  butter. 

K 


I30  THE  MANX  WITCH 

Manners  is  manners — that's  my  motter. 

But  bless  ye !  the  Pazon  didn  take 

The  smallest  notice  ;  he'd  hev  gev  ^  him  a  shake 

Sure  enough,  if  it  hcdn  lia'  been 

The  terble  bothered  and  'cited  he  seen 

Poor  Jack  was — for  ye  musn  suj^pose 

The  Pazon  'd  hide  his  head  under  the  clothes 

When  cussin  was  goin — not  him  !     \\'hat !  cussin 

Before  the  Pazon  ?     My  gough  !  ye  dussin — 

The  chaps  wudn  have  it !     It  wasn  him, 

But  us,  by  G — d.     It's  limb  from  limb 

We'd  ha'  tore  the  divil  that  dar'd  to  'suit 

Ould  Pazon  Gale.     But  Jack  was  pull't " 

Very  sore  in  his  heart ;  and  the  Pazon  was  kind, 

And  so,  ye  see,  he  didn  mind — 

No— 

And  then  he  'splaint''  and  'splaint, 
Aw,  uncommon  !     And — The  Testament, 
And  the  Ouhi  atid  the  New,  and  close  akin, 
But  still  for  all  the  dijjcrin— 
And  dispensin  and  that.     And  ;i!l  about  glioses, 
And  divils,  and  Samuel,  and  Moses ; 

'  Have  given.  ^  Pulled,  ^  Explained. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  131 

And  the  poiuer  of  the  evil  Ofie,  and  them  dirts 

That  W3.S  J>ossesszn  people,  unclean  spir'ts, 

And  sj>ir'ts  of  infirmity — ^just  so  ; 

And  that  muck  of  divils  that  was  suffered  to  go 

Into  the  pigs,  that  was  feedin  away — 

Muck  ^  to  muck  !  lek  a  body  might  say — 

And  drowned  in  the  waters.     And  Christ  to  send  them 

About  their  biznuss,  and  take  and  pin  them 

In  the  only  place  they  gor  a  right  to. 

And  sure  enough  that's  hell.     And  they'll  try  to 

Ger"  out  for  a  sthrowl,  no  doubt ;  but  they  can't — 

And  their  power  is  gone  ;  and  no  matter  the  haunt 

Or  the  used  of  ^  a  place,  or  a  pesson's  body, 

They're  done  complate.     Some  niddy-noddy 

Of  a  poor  craythur  you'll  be  seein  still 

On  the  counthry  goin  ;  but  unpozzible 

For  these  divils  to  touch  them,  bein  innocent — 

Wutches  !  no  !     But  others  rent 

With  fire  and  fury,  and  they're  callin, 

Insane,  and  that,  and  shoutin  and  bawlin — 

Aw,  as  mad  as  brute  bases — 

1  Pig  (Manx).  -  Get  out. 

*  How  much  they  are  used  to. 


THE   MANX  WITCH 

But  just  a  disase  like  other  disases. 

But  wutches  !  we've  got  nothin  to  say  with — 

Wutches !     They're  tuk  and  done  away  with 

Altogether  ;  got  the  sack  ; 

And  Christ  that  done  it,  and  that's  a  fact ! 

And  Baalim  and  Ashtaroth, 

HeaverHs  quee?i  and  mother  both — 

Somethin  like  that — but  I'll  take  my  oath — 

A  Roman  1  the  Pazon  !  God  bless  your  sowl ! 

Not  him  ;  but,  if  I  may  make  so  boul', 

Just  houl'  your  jaw  !     And — The  Libyc  Amnion, 

The  chap  with  the  horns  ;  and  ould  Mammon, 

That  must  ha'  been  a  surl  of  a  fool, 

With  his  eyes  on  the  floor  for  the  fond  of  the  gool- 

Hapes — but  druv  away  like  chaff 

Afore  the  babe  that  was  burn  in  the  laf '  ^ — 

At  laste,  the  manger — -and  no  use  a'  rebellin — 

That's  the  way  the  I'azon  was  tellin. 

The  Bible  f     No;  but  a  blind  ould  party 
iJy  the  name  o'  Milton — blind,  but  hearty; 
dor"  an  eye  inside  of  him  thecr, 

»  Loft.  2  Got. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  133 

Somewhere  or  another,  an  eye  that  clear 
It  could  split  the  bottom  of  darkness  in  two, 
And  hev  ^  a  view,  aw,  he'd  hev  a  view, 
Fuss-rate,  would  Milton  ;  aw^,  he  wudn  fail ! 

But  the  Bible But  the  Pazon  was  thinkin  a  dale 

Of  this  Milton,  and  the  grand  he  wrote — 
A  pote,  ye  know,  of  coorse,  a  pote. 

But  still,  for  all a  pote,  yis,  yis  ! 

But  somethin  about  it  in  Genesis. 

Beautiful  the  Pazon  purrit." 
But,  bless  ye  !  I  might  take  and  worret 
My  brains  till  next  week,  and  I  cudn  give  it 
The  way  the  Pazon  did — like  a  rivet, 
The  close  and  the  sthrong — uncommon  though  ! 
And  still,  for  all,  was  there  wutches  or  no — 
Aw,  my  gough  !  it's  hard  to  be  sayin — 
Aye — but  seemin  terble  plain 
When  the  Pazon  was  agate  of  the  arguin  talk  ; 
Nor  me,  nor  even  Jack  didn  balk 
The  Pazon,  nor  never  stirred  nor  winced, 
But  let  him  go  on ;  but  whether  convinced — 
1  Have.  -  Put  it. 


134  THE   MANX   WITCH 

It  isn  me — my  goodness,  no  ! 

But  terble  quite  and  pleasant  though. 

And  then  the  Pazon  said  he'd  spake 
To  Nessy  herself ;  and  he  hoped  she\i  fake 
Heart,  he  said ;  "  for,  Jack,"  he  says, 
"  If  you're  lovin  each  other  in  truthfulness  ; 
If  your  love  is  rael,  if  your  love's  simrre 
(He  was  fond  of  the  word),  then  never  fear ! 
There's  no  power  on  earth,  or  anywhere  else, 
That'll  harm  ye,  no  ! "     And  the  ould  eyes  fills — 
Aw,  they  did  !  aw  they  did,  and  the  hands  was 

gript. 
And  Jack  in  the  slush  of  tears,  and  slipt 
On  his  knees — poor  sowl !  aw,  feelin  !  feelin  ! 
And  the  Pazon  blessed  him  where  he  was  kncelin- 
Sol)l)ed,  did  Jack;  and  "You'll  .s]iake  to  her,  yis  ! 
You'll  spake,  you'll  s])ake  ! "  and  sobbed,  and  ris,^ 
And  out  on  the  door,  and  off  with  us  there. 
And  the  two  of  us  cryin  like  fools  wc  were — 

"  D d  fools,"  says  Marry,  when  he  met  us — 

But  Harry  was  Harry,  so  that  didn  fret  us — 

'  Rose. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  135 

"  D d  fools,  is  it  ?  well  grantit !  grantit ! 

But  lave  us,  Harry."     So  Harry  slantit. 

And  the  Pazon  kep  his  word,  for  he  went 
The  very  next  day  to  see  Nessy,  and  spent 
The  best  of  an  hour  with  her  there,  and  he  tould  her 
All  about  wutches ;  and  a  mind  to  scould  her 
For  the  fearful  she  was  :  but  all  he  done 
Was  spoke  to  her,  and  made  the  run  ^ 
Much  the  same  he  did  with  us — 
And  Nessy  cryin  fit  to  bus' — 
And  about  the  poiver  ;  they  cudn  hev  it. 
These  wutches,  no  !     And  who  was  to  gev  it  ? — 
Most  of  them  wake  in  their  intelleck  ; 
But  others  wicked  ;  and  the  fay  male  seek 
In  general,  the  Pazon  said — 
Aye,  wrong  in  the  head,  wrong  in  the  head. 
But  mischievous  enough  7aas  a  wutch — 
Sartinly — and  spacial for  such 
That  believed  in  the  Ick.     But  believe  them  not, 
And  whereas  their  pozcer?  it's  gone  like  a  shot. 
"  It's  you  that  gives  them  the  power,"  he  says, 

1  Took  the  same  line. 


136  THE   MANX   WITCH 

"  By  believin  in  all  this  wickedness — 

Power?     It's  you  that's  'sponsible  for  it ; 

Don't  give  them  the  power,  and  they  hevn  gorrit.^ 

Poor  thing  !  "  he  says,  "  poor  thing  !  poor  thing  ! 

Poor  Xessy  then  I  "     And  the  hands  to  wring 

At  -  Nessy — aye — "  And  your  aunt,"  he  said  ; 

"  Vour  aunt  !  aw  dear  !  it's  very  bad — 

Very  bad,  and  very  hard  " — 

But  the  door  of  messy  7vasn  hamd 

Agin  tlie  Ick.     And  then  lie  tuk 

A  little  prayer,  and  Nessy  shuk 

All  over ;  but  got  more  pacefuller. 

And  then  she  said — "  Will  you  spake  to  her, 

Masthar  Gale?"  she  says.     Aw,  his  lip  was  goin. 

But  never  a  word,  and  never  no  knowin 

Azackly  what  was  arrim  "' — his  head 

All  stooped,  you  know.     But  at  last  he  said — 

"I  will" — very  low,  like  a  sun  of  a  pride, 

That  humble  and  that  dignified. 

And  the  hat  and  the  stick ;  and  Nessy  freckened 

To  sec  him  like  yandhar.     Now  it's  general  reckoned 

'  Got  it.  '  On  the  part  of. 

'  At  him  (wh.il  was  the  matter  with  him). 


THE  MANX  WITCH  137 

That  Pazons  is  special — what,  special  ?  my  gough  ! 

A  Pazon  can  spit,  and  a  Pazon  can  cough. 

What  is  it  botherin  you  and  me 

In  our  sowls  ?     We  know  we've  done  wrong,  d'ye  see  ! 

Give  it  a  word  now  !  chrizzen  ^  it,  chrizzen  it ! 

In  our  sowls,  in  our  sowls,  man — Conscience,  isn  it  ? 

Conscience — sartinly.     And  the  same 

With  Pazons.     Pazons  feelin  shame  ? 

To  be  sure  !  aw,  good  enough  some  of  them  ; 

But  still  a  conscience  !     You're  thinkin  it's  rum  of  them  ? 

They  should  be  angels  altogether  ? 

But  bless  ye  !  bless  ye  !  just  considher 

Or drop  it !     Anyway,  I'll  be  bail 

There  was  conscience  plenty  in  Pazon  Gale. 
And  he  knew  he  shud  ha'  spoke  to  this  beauty 
Long  afore,  lek  bein  his  duty 
As  clear  as  clear  :  but  didn,  no  ! 
That's  the  way — just  so  !  just  so  ! 
The  delicake — that's  the  way  he  spar'd  her : 
Bless  ye  !  the  delicaker  the  harder  ! 
Isn  it  ?  reg'lar  ?  the  harder  to  spake 
To  such  dirts,  the  harder  to  have  or  to  make 

^  Christen. 


138  THE   MANX  WITCH 

With  their  doins,  the  natheral  to  keep 
Urrov  ^  their  road,  lek  the  way  with  a  sweep, 
And  his  rope,  and  his  brush,  and  his  bag  of  shoot. 
But  wrong,  I  tell  ye,  and  the  Pazon  knew 't. 

So  that's  the  way  his  countenance  fell 
Lek  you'll  obsarve  before  this  gel — 
Remindin  me  of  Peter  though. 
And  Jesus  to  look,  and  the  cock  to  crow ; 
But  cussed  did  Peter,  but  went  out  in  the  rain. 
And  wept  bitterly,  it's  sayin. 
Yes,  I've  seen  some  of  your  touch-me-nots 
Of  Pazons,  machine-made  Pazons — lots  ! 
Castins  o'  Pazons,  that  moulded  and  squared, 
Blackleaded  and  polished,  that  how  are  they  rared 
I  don't  know  in  my  senses,  no  more  till  I'd  know 
How  a  stove  'd  be  rarin — toe  to  toe  ! 
Aw  beautiful !  but  rarcd  they  ar'n, 
But  that  prim  and  that  puffeck  the  divil  dar'n 
Come  nigh  them,  it's  lek.     And  they  never  done  wrong, 
And  they  never  done  right  .   .   .  ding-dong,  ding-dong ! 
Ah,  my  men!  when  Pll  die,  when  I'll  die! 

»  Out  of. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  139 

Who'll  meet  me  yandhar  up  in  the  sky  ? 
Who'll  hould  me  theer  that  I  can  stand  ? 
Who'll  take  my  hand  ?  who'll  take  my  hand 
Afore  air  that  glory  ?     Not  one  of  them — 
No,  no  !  but  hmi !  but  him  !  but  him  ! 

The  dear  ould  head  ...  he  stooped  it,  did  he  ? 
Well,  but  off  to  see  the  widdy — 
This  Banks — that  very  minute,  aye  ! 
But  never  saw  her  .  .  .  why  then,  why  ? 
Never  saw  her,  that's  it ! 
Never,  never  !  but  wait  a  bit ! 

She  wasn  at  home  when  the  Pazon  knocked, 
No  answer,  at  laste ;  and  the  door  was  locked, 
And  Job  away  at  the  Clague's ;  and  so 
Of  coorse  the  Pazon  had  to  go. 
But  tried  again  next  day  ;  but  never 
No  Mrs.  Banks,  that  dodged  him  clever, 
You'd  be  thinkin— what  ?  aw,  well,  well,  well ! 
And  next  day,  and  next  day ;  and  it's  hard  to  tell — 
Weeks,  it's  lek — the  Pazon  was  off 
Every  day  to  yandhar  crof '; 


I40  THE  MANX  WITCH 

AVeeks  and  weeks — and  no  use ; 

And  poor  Job  tuk  in  at  Brew's ; 

And  wond'rin  greatly  what  had  become 

Of  the  mother ;  but  still  he  had  a  home, 

Of  coorse ;  but  terrible  forsaken 

Was  Job,  and  sorrowful,  and  takin 

Up  on  the  mountains  and  callin,  callin 

"  Mother  !  mother !  "     And  chaps  that  was  trawlin 

Down  on  the  shore  would  feel  a  Ict,^ 

And  think  they'd  got  her  in  the  net — 

But  no  !     And  Brew  though,  very  kind  ; 

And — "  Never  mind  !  never  mind  ! 

She'll  be  in  Ramsey."     And  axin  theer, 

And  Douglas,  you  know,  and  everywheer, 

Till  at  last  says  Brew,  "  I'll  wager  she's  gone 

To  LiveqDool ; "  and  "  Lave  her  alone, 

And  she's  all  right." 

And  Jack  to  coax 
This  Nessy  to  marry  him  ;  and  little  jokes - 
And  a  bit  cheerfuUer ;  but  wudn  consent ; 
And— "Oh,  1  (ant!  O  Jack,  I  can't!" 
And  the  cruel  it  was  of  him  to  persist^ 

'   Hindrance  (something  that  caught  the  net). 


THE   MANX  WITCH  141 

And  shiver,  and  hide  her  head  in  his  breast. 

And  never  no  forrader,  and  Har^j, 

The  dooiney-molla  ?     Of  coorse,  to  marry. 

And  to  marry  at  once — "  What  capers  !  blow  it !  " 

Marry  away  !  hoto  the  deuce  would  she  know  it  ? 

"  Chance  it !  "  says  Harry,  "  chance  it !  "— "  Take  care," 

Says  Nessy,  "what  you're  talkin  there  ! 

This  strong  wutchin  is  hard  to  clane 

Urrov  ^  things  ;  it  gets  in  the  grain, 

The  very  subjecs,"  lek  no  bleachin  '11  fly  ^  it. 

Nor  nothin  else  won't  purify  it. 

It's  all  about  in  the  fields  and  the  bushes, 

You'd  think  you  could  see  it  among  the  rushes, 

Creepin,  crawlin,  like  a  blue  mist, 

Like  the  breath  of  some  spir't."     And  she  took  and  kissed 

Poor  Jack,  that  looked  lek  rather  onaisy, 

I  tell  ye.     But  Harry  jumped  like  crazy — 

"You're  right,"  he  says,  "I'm  feelin  it  .   .  .  what? 

All  round  me,"  he  says ;  "it's  could  and  it's  hot. 

And  it's  stickin  all  over,  like  these  webs,"  he  says, 

"  That's  spun  in  the  air  !   I'll  cut  urrov  this," 

Says  Harry— I'll  cut  ...   I  will  though!"  and  off, 

1  Out  of.  -  Substance.  ^  Make  it  fly. 


142  THE   MANX  WITCH 

That  Nessy  cudn  help  but  laugh — 
Poor  sowl ! 

But  when  the  summer  come  round, 
And  the  apples  in  blossom,  and  all  the  ground 
Speckled  with  daisies,  then  Harry  tried 
To  get  them  to  do  the  coortin  outside. 
The  way  they  were  used.     For  the  chap  had  a  notion 
That  the  lovely  smell,  and  the  draught,  and  the  motion 
Of  the  wind  through  the  trees,  and  the  sweet  and  the  fresh, 
And  the  wholesome  lek  would  unfasten  the  mesh 
Of  this  divil's  net  that  their  hearts  was  caught  in. 
Ikit  Nessy  wudn  ;  she  said — they  ouglttn, 
Nor  no  pleasure  nor  nothin^  she  said. 
Till  thcyd  kinnci  at  laste  was  site  live  or  dead — 
This  Banks.     Belirc'in  in  unitches  still? 
Of  coorse  !  of  coorse  !  dear  me  !   they  will — 
The  women— and  /ne  ?     Vcs  me,  and  you, 
For  the  matter  of  that.     So  dunl  give  st/ioo  ^ 
Quite  so  hasty.     T/ie  Pazon — you're  sayin  ? 
Fuss-rate  !  fuss-rate  !     But  you  know  what  I  mane — 
The  Pazon  was  arguin  capital — 
Arguin — but  that's  not  all, 

*  Chase,  find  fault. 


THE   MANX  WITCH  143 

Isn  arguin — it  grips 

The  head  of  a  fellow  ;  but  what  is  it  rips 

Your  very  sowl  ?     What  is  it  gives  way 

Inside  ye,  sinks  ye,  scuttles  ye. 

Falls  urrov  ye  like  a  false  bottom  ? 

That's  the  thing  !  ye  fancy  ye  got  him. 

Because  he  don't  answer  ye  !  answer  your  granny  ! 

Isn  it  natur  that's  in  ?  how  can  he 

Go  agin  her  ?     Take  pitchforks  to  her, 

You'll  never  put  her  to  the  door — 

Never  !  natur  !  bred  in  the  blood  ! 

Well,  it's  not  natheral  ye  cud. 

Two  years  went  on,  and  not  a  word 
About  this  Mrs.  Banks  was  heard 
At  the  Ballaquine,  nor  anywhere  else, 
Not  a  word  :  and  boys  and  gels 
Was  pairin  off,  and  weddins  goin ; 
But  Jack  and  Nessy  wasn  showin 
No  signs  at  all.     But  lizzen,  my  men  ! 
I  tould  ye  about  the  Dragon's  Den, 
That  was  high  up  on  the  mountain  side ; 
And  the  ould  shaft,  that  was  op'nin  wide 


144  THE   MANX   WITCH 

At  the  foot  of  the  slock  ^ — and  gave  ui)  workin 

I  don't  know  the  years.     ^Vell  now  then  herkin  ! 

The  Directors  tuk  a  notion  they'd  try 

This  shaft  again  :  and  Captain  Spry 

Agate  o'  the  search  ;  and  tuk  a  gang, 

And  Jack  was  one,  and  I'll  be  hang 

If  they  didn  take  Job  to  help  to  carry 

Their  tools,  or  the  lek  o'  yandhar.     And  Harry — 

Harry  was  there.     And  Job  was  lottin 

Down  with  a  roix-,  for  the  way  he'd  be  gettin 

Some  candles  lit  on  the  first  level, 

For  to  light  them,  ye  know.     And  a  bank  of  gravel, 

And  then  the  shaft  went  farther  down. 

So  Job  was  gropin,  and  got  his  ground. 

And  lit  a  candle.     And  they  heard  a  cry 

Most  terrible  they  did.     And  Spry 

Gave  orders  at  once  for  Jack  to  be  lowrt 

Down  to  the  level,  and  jii^i  u>  ixpori 

What  was  the  matter.     And  so  he  done — 

And  what — aw,  what  did  he  find  but  the  son 

And  the  mother?     .And  J(jb  had  fainted  dead — 

Poor  thing  !  and  there  he  was  laiti 

By  the  side  of  the  bones  and  the  skull.     For  ye  sec 

'  Holluw. 


THE  MANX  WITCH  145 

He  knew  her  by  the  clothes — machree  !  ^ 
Machree  !  machree  !     And  in  her  hand 
She  was  claspin  an  'arb — I  don't  understand 
Azackly  what ;  but  I'm  tould  it's  knowin 
For  the  used  at "  tHese  wutches,  and  hardly  growin 
Anywhere  but  round  this  shaft. 
And  that's  the  way,  lek  foUerin  her  craft, 
She  must  have  gone  prowlin  up  yandhar  place, 
And  missed  her  footin — and  God's  grace 
Is  for  all,  for  all !     But  the  'arb  had  struck 
A  root  in  the  gravel,  and  her  hand  was  stuck 
To  the  soil ;  and  they  had  to  tear  it  out — 
Just  fancy  what  a  place  to  sprout !  ^ 

But  these  dirts  ...  but  lave  it.     And  Jack,  though,  Jack- 
He  sent  Job  up  first :  and  then  a  sack 
Was  low'rt  to  him  ;  and  every  pin  of  her. 
And  clout,  and  whatever  there  was  in  ^  of  her, 
It  was  Jack,  I  tell  ye,  that  gathered  them  all. 
And  made  the  signal  for  the  men  to  haul ; 
And  come  up  last  himself,  as  game, 
And  divil  a  word  ;  but  his  face  all  aflame 
With  the  joy,  you'd  think.     For  he  knew  what  'd  happen 

^  My  heart.  -  As  being  used  by.  •*  In  is  superfluous 

L 


146  THE   MANX  WITCH 

Soon  enough  now.     But  when  the  ould  cap'n 

Said,  "  Jack,  my  lad,  that's  a  good  job  for  you — 

You'd  better  go  tell  it  to  Nessy  Brew  " — 

Aw,  bless  ye  !  that  was  too  much  for  him — what  ? 

It  floored  him  just  the  same  he'd  been  shot. 

And  he  fell  like  a  corp.     Then  the  men  stood  round, 

And  never  a  sound,  never  a  sound  ! 

Till  Jack  come  to  in  the  teems  of  tears 

And  sobs.     And  bless  my  sowl  then  !  wheer's 

'J'he  man  cud  ha'  stood  it  ?     1  know  I  cudn — 

Joy  ? — it  was  joy  :  i)ut  tuk  that  sudden 

And well,  well,  well — they  formed  in  a  line, 

And  they  carried  her  to  the  Ballacjuine 

In  puffeck  silence — the  wutch  was  dead  ; 

They  knew  what  they  had,  they  knew  what  they  had. 

Ne.xt  day  the  bell  was  toullin  for  her ; 
And  maybe  it  oughtn  ;  but  sorrer  is  sorrer 
After  all ;  and  (iod  is  a  (lod 
Of  mercy — yes  !     I  broke  a  sod 
Of  her  grave  myself;  and  the  woman  was  buried — 
The  lightest  coffin  ever  I  carried. 
And  the  Pazon  read  the  sarvicc — yis  ! 


THE   MANX  WITCH  147 

And — "Our  dear  sister,"  what's  this  it  is? 

Aye,  .  .  .  and  the  ..."  sure  and  sartin  hope  " — 

Well,  I  won't  say  nothin — God  gives  the  scope. 

Not  man ;  it's  Him  that  slacks  to  us, 

And  rides  us  aisy — and  well  He  does. 

Anyway  we  buried  the  woman. 
And  the  wutchin  with  her.     So  now  what's  comin  ? 
Comin  ?     What  ?     Why  Jack  of  coorse, 
And  Nessy — aw,  as  sure  as  sure's. 
Happy,  I  tell  ye,  sartinly  ! 
And  me  to  church  with  them,  it's  aisy  to  see. 
And  nice  she  looked,  and  nice  she  was — 
And  summer  for  winter,  and  heat  for  frost ; 
And  the  dooiney-molla  all  in  his  glory ; 
And  the  club  bruck  up,  and  the  end  of  the  story — 
Jack  Pentreath — you'll  remember  him — 
And  Nessy  Brew — Just  douse  that  glim  ! 


THE    INDIAMAN 

Aye  !  exactly — that's  the  name — 
Fanny  Graeme,  Fanny  Graeme — 
Come  aboord  in  the  Prince's  dock — 
Loadin  theer — and  caught  her  frock 
In  the  gang^vay — the  crooky  it  was  put — 
And  a  sHp  and  a  skip,  and  a  twist  of  her  foot, 
And  fell  in  his  arms— IF/icse  arms?  you  shoutii  ? 
That  shows  you  don't  know  much  about  it  — 
Who  and  what,  and  where  and  when — 
Avast  these  quashtins  !  ^  Peter's  then — 
Peter's  arms — that's  Peter  Young, 
Peter  the  i)rintice,  Peter  the  Tongue — 
That's  what  we  called  him,  bein  despard  slippy, 
And  quick  as  light,  and  droppy  and  drippy 
With  the  honey  feathered  on  its  pint, 
'  (Questions. 


THE   INDIAMAN  149 

And  the  curl,  and  the  cHck,  and  the  swingin  jint — 
Thriddle-thraddle ;  beef  or  pork, 
You  couldn  touch  him  with  the  talk. 

Had  to  hommer  him — that  was  all, 
Hommer  him — and  then  to  fall 
Right  in  his  arms,  lek  aboord  a  wreck, 
And  his  arms  round  her  waist,  and  her  arms  round  his 

neck, 
Houldin  on  most  terble  though  : 
And  me  to  take  her  very  slow, 
As  dignified  as  dignified. 
And  studdy  her  agin  ^  the  side — 
And — Was  she  Inert?  and  as  red  as  a  buckie,^ 
And  tould  that  chap  to  cut  his  lucky — 
Unknownst,  of  coorse — just  whisp'rin  theer, 
Like  redhot  sarpints  in  his  ear. 

So  the  divil  cut,  but  gave  a  look, 
Aw  my  gough  !  like  print  in  a  book — 
This  Peter — like  print,  havin  tongues  in  his  eyes. 
And  everywheer,  lerr  ^  alone  the  size, 

^  Steady  her  against.    .      ^  jjip,  berry  of  the  dog-rose.         *  Let. 


ISO  THE  INDIAMAN 

And  the  light  that  was  at  them ' — aw,  by  jingers  ! 
These  deaf-and-dumb  chaps,  with  their  fingers — 
Aw  bless  ye !  they  might  ha'  gone  to  school  to  him- 
Tallagraphs  was  only  a  fool  to  him. 
Now  what  could  you  do  with  this  divil's  kin  ? 
Hommerin,  just  hommerin. 

So  I  took  the  lady  to  her  cabin, 
And  he  turned,  and  another  look  like  stabbin. 
For  me,  you  know  ;  so  took  and  went, 
And  gave  it  him  immadient — 
Aw,  wanted  it  bad  !     And — wJio  7vas  he 
To  be  buckin  up  to  the  ijuality — 
A  pup  like  him — and  this  and  that — 
Oh  !  he  was  on  me  like  a  cat — 
And —  Who  %vas  he .'  and  he'd  have  me  to  knoiv — 
And — a  gentleman  s  son — "  Woho  !  woho  !  " 
I  says,  "  My  lad  ;  is  it  tongue  that's  in  ?" 
And  when  I  begun  I  did  begin — 
Hommerin  ?  yes,  hommerin. 

liui  the  deed  was  done,  whichever  way, 
'  Which  they  had. 


THE   INDIAMAN  151 

Couldn  ha'  been  done-er eh  ? 

Comedher  ?  ^  bless  ye  !  him  or  her — 

Couldn  ha'  been  comedherer  ! 

A  chance,  a  glance,  a  touch,  a  breath, 

And  there  you're  lovin  unto  death — 

Strange  !  and  others — I'll  defy  them  ! 

Do  what  you  like  with  them,  splice  them,  tie  them — 

Every  knot,  and  Pazon  and  Clerk, 

And  all  the  boults  in  Noah's  ark — 

Bless  your  sowl !  just  differin  total — 

Lek  it's  often  with  things  that's  poured  in  a  bottle — 

Shake  them,  shake  them  the  vicious  you  can  ! 

You'll  navar  mix  them — will  ye,  Dan  ? 

Just  so  with  pessins — for  all  your  bother, 

They'll  navar  be  nothin  to  one  another. 

That's  the  way ;  and  listen  to  me — 
Before  the  pilot  left — d'ye  see  ? 
T/iaf  soon,  bedad  !  they'd  got  to  talkin — 
The  cheek  of  the  chap  !  and  her  too — shockin  ! 

Shockin And  still  it  wasn  bould, 

Nor  imprint,  no,  upon  my  sowl ! 

^  Charm,  spell. 


152  THE   INDIAMAN 

An  innocenter  thing  you  navar, 

But  lively.     And  so,  goin  down  the  river, 

The  pilot  seen ;  and,  just  he  was  steppin 

Over  the  rail,  he  turns  to  the  Cap'n, 

And  a  cough,  and  a  wink  like  squoze  through  a  eyelet — 

"  Mind  your  printice  !  "  says  the  pilot. 

"  Mind  your  printice  ! "    Aw,  I  got  a  view  of  them. 
If  the  Captain  didn  ;  and,  l)chould  yc  !  the  two  of  them. 
Him  in  the  mizen  shrouds,  and  her 
In  the  starboard  quarter-gallery  there — 
And  her  lookin  sorrowful,  and  him  lookin  sorrowful, 
And  her  lookin  plaiscd,  and  him  lookin  plaised. 
Till  I  tell  ye  then  I  was  nearly  crazed ; 
And  hailed  him,  and  down  with  him  quick  enough, 
And  run  him  forrard  hy  the  scrufT — 
Aw  the  sorrowful  !  the  forsokcn  ! 
Just  lek  you'd  think  their  hearts  was  broken — 
And  then  the  smilin  that  'd  be  goin — 
Aw  dear  !  the  way.s — you're  navar  knowin — 
IJothcrin  one  another — what  ? 
Aw  botherin,  taczin,  all-to-that ' 

'  Ktc. 


THE   INDIAMAN  153 

And  still  no  harm — aw,  I  wouldn  say't, 
Nor  I  wouldn  think  it — wait  then,  wait ! 
Imps  of  things  !     But  raison  is  raison. 
And  cautious  of  coorse  is  allis  in  saison. 

Cautmis — that  was  the  Skipper's  word. 
And  had  me  in  his  cabin,  and  heard 
All  I  had  to  say ;  and  says  he, 
"Mr.  Baynes,"  he  says,  "you'll  see 
To  this,"  he  says,  "  Mr.  Baynes,"  he  says, 
"  And  you'll  be  cautious,  cautious — yes. 
Very  cautious,"  he  says  ;  "  take  pains," 
He  says,  "and  be  cautious,  Mr.  Baynes — 
I'm  trustin  altogether  to  you. 
Quarter-master,"  he  says  ;  "the  crew 
Is  excellent,"  he  says — ^  "ahem— — 
But  of  coorse  my  ofificers  is  them 
I'm  bound  to  trust,  and  allis  will." 
Aw,  bless  your  sowl !  the  'spectable, 
Them  times — what  me  !  yes,  me,  bedad  ! 
And  rather  a  fatherly  way  I  had, 
Fatherly — just  so,  just  so — 
Fatherly  uncommon  though. 


154  THE   INDIAMAN 

The  fatherly  you  wouldn  think  ; 

And  tuk  a  notion,  and  gave  up  the  drink — 

My  goodness  !  the  clear  my  head  was  then — 

Head  and  heart  and  all,  my  men — 

Clear  as  a  bell — as  a  bell  though,  yis — 

Bless  my  sovvl !  the  nice  it  is  ! 

Clear — that's  it,  lek  clear  in  the  head — 

And fatherly,  fatherly,  was  it  I  said  ? 

Fatherly — I'll  tell  ye  what, 

I  belave  there's  hapes  of  chaps  like  that — 

Navar  had  a  chick  or  a  chile. 

Nor  the  name  of  it ;  and  all  the  while 

They've  got  the  father  in  them  that  strong 

That  they  crave  and  crave,  and  they  long  and  they  long, 

And  they're  tuk  with  it  that  terrible 

That  they'll  have  it  some  way — aye,  they  will — 

And  anytliing  young  that's  comin  near  them 

They're  just  for  worshippin — navar  fear  them  ! 

Who  makes  it  work  in  them  like  leaven  ? 

Isn't  it  God,  our  Father  in  heaven  ? 

Oh  yes  it  is — it's  Him,  I  cxpcck — 

I  was  allis  tcrble  fond  of  the  Ick. 


THE  INDIAMAN  I55 

But  still,  a  father,  I  don't  care  who. 
Should  have  the  'torrity  ^  with  him  too, 
The  'torrity,  for  all  the  kind, 
And  the  touch-me-not,  and  the  draw-the-line. 
And  "aisy-all ! "  and  give  them  slaps. 
And  hould  them  in,  and  his  heart  perhaps 
Just  meltin  in  his  body  hke  dips 
For  the  way  he's  feelin  for  these  rips — 
But  still,  of  coorse,  as  firm  and  stately — 
Aw,  that's  where  I  was  bet  complately — 
Bet,  I  tell  ye,  yes,  yes,  yes — 
I  was  too  soft.     "  Be  cautious  ! "  he  says ; 
And  cautious  I  was ;  but  I  couldn  be  rocks. 
And  I  couldn  be  ropes,  and  I  couldn  be  locks, 
And  keys,  and  patent-safeties — what  ? 
And  boults,  and  bars — And  her  to  get 
The  fond  of  me,  whatavar  made  her — 
Aw  the  little  desperader  ! 

Well,  ye  know,  this  is  the  way  it  began — 
Did  ye  ever  see  an  Indiaman  ? 
One  of  the  reggilar  ould  model, 

1  Authority. 


156  THE   INDIAMAN 

Diddle-daddle,  all  a-straddle, 

Like  a  turkey-cock.     They're  much  more  simple 

Is  big  ships  now :  but  Solomon's  temple, 

With  carvin  and  gildin,  and  goodness  knows ! 

Knobs  and  bobs,  and  Jachin  and  Boze, 

Wasn  nothin  to  yandhar  craft ; 

With  a  Tower-o'-Babcl  risin  aft, 

And  windhers  like  a  'sarvatory. 

And  galleries  there,  just  story  on  story, 

Like  summer-houses  goin  a-cockin — 

Aw,  most  horrible  !  most  shockin  ! 

No  room  to  work,  and  still  a  waist 

Like  a  haggard,  or  a  market-place, 

Or  a  church — and  doors  and  doors,  treminjis  ! 

And  allis  comin  off  the  hinges. 

So  there  ye  are !  and  gettin  together, 
And  hidin,  bless  ye  !  just  consedher — 
And  so  many  places  where  they  cud  be — 
How  could  I  guess  the  place  they  7imd  be  ? 
And  when  I'd  catch  them,  there'd  be  the  one 
Lookin  out  at  the  horizon 
As  straight  and  as  studdy  as  a  beadle. 


THE   INDIAMAN  157 

And  the  other  workin  away  with  her  needle — 
Very  silent — 

Fanny  Graeme — 
Aw  that's  the  name  though,  that's  the  name — 
A  Colonel's  daughter,  the  Captain  stated, 
And  sent  to  England  to  be  eddicated. 
And  just  left  school,  and  her  uncle  put  her 
Aboord  with  us,  bein  bound  for  Calcutta, 
And  the  father  "  a  terble  swell  out  there," 
Says  the  Captain,  "  it's  very  particular," 
Knd^^or  me  to  mind  my  fs  and  qs  well, 
And — much  more  cautiouser  till  usual — 

That  was  the  Captain  :  and  so  I  did. 
But  then  these  things  and  the  way  they  were  hid. 
One  evenin  I  caught  them  under  the  lee 
Of  the  long-boat  there — the  'dacity  ! 
Quiet  enough,  and  very  proper 
In  regard  of  their  conduck  and  that ;  but  a  stopper 
Had  to  be  put ;  so  I  signed  him  to  me, 
And  made  him  go  forrard  straight,  and,  blow  me  ! 
If  I  didn  tan  him  that  time  well — 
"  I  suppose  you  think  that  that's  a  gel  ?  " 


158  THE   INDIAMAN 

Says  I ;  "  may  I  make  so  bould  as  inform  ye 
That  that's  a  lady  ?     Don't  let  me  alarm  ye  ! 
But  drop  this  game,"  I  says,  "  young  porpus, 
Or  I'll  lay  ye  at  my  feet  a  corpus — 
A  corpus."     And  then  we'd  rather  a  slick 
Of  roughish  water,  and  I  thought  she'd  be  sick, 
And  that  'd  be  takin  the  nonsense  out  of  her ; 
But  divil-a-bit !  and  the  saucy  pout  of  her. 
And  the  hair  in  the  wind  all  Oyin  away. 
And  the  face  all  drippin  with  the  spray, 
And  skippin  and  trippin,  and  houldin  on, 
And  many  a  time  I  thought  she  was  gone ; 
And  the  joy  of  the  craythur — tumble  and  toss. 
And  as  fresh  as  a  mackarel,  that's  what  she  was. 

Aye,  and  of  coorse,  you'll  see  the  excuse 
This  Peter  would  have  for  his  parley-voos 
Them  times — for  she'd  come  like  a  bullet  at  him, 
And  he  had  to  catch  her,  and  I  had  to  let  him — 
And  then  the  slow  to  cast  her  adrift, 
And  the  look  like  some  of  her  was  left 
In  his  arms — the  divil  !  and  squeezin  there 
Agin  his  breast.     So  everywhere, 


THE   INDIAMAN  159 

Blow  high,  blow  low,  come  smooth  or  rough, 

I'll  tell  ye  what,  it  was  hard  enough 

For  the  lot  of  us  to  keep  them  sundered, 

Let  alone  one ;  for  I  sometimes  wondered 

The  Captain  didn't  interfere  ; 

But  I  fancy  he  didn  seem  to  see  her 

Agate  of  her  games  ;  and,  if  he  did. 

The  terble  confidence  he  had 

In  me,  ye  know ;  and  hardly  his  place 

To  be  watchin,  and  prowlin,  and  givin  chase 

To  the  leks  of  these  two,  that  was  know'n,  no  doubt. 

When  he  was  likely  to  be  about. 

And  could  aisy  dodge  him.     But  me,  you  know, 

Watch  on  deck,  or  watch  below, 

It's  just  one  watch  I  had  to  keep, 

Allis  at  it,  and  navar  no  sleep — 

Aw  bless  ye  !  navar  no  sleep  at  me. 

With  the  freckened,  and  the  'ziety.^ 

So  when  we  come  to  the  doldhrums,  a-lyin 
Like  a  log  on  the  sea,  and  the  paints  a-fryin. 
And  every  sowl  aboord  just  done 

^  From  being  so  frightened  and  anxious. 


i6o  THE  INDIAMAN 

With  the  stupid  they  felt,  and  the  power  of  the  sun — 

Lo  and  behould  !  these  two  was  as  spruce 

As  ever — aw  well !  it  isn  no  use — 

Love  it  was,  I'm  parfact  willin — 

Where  won't  he  go,  the  little  villain  ! 

Hot  or  could — a  despard  rambler — 

Coast  o'  Guinea,  Novar  Zamhlar — 

"  Greenland's  icy  mountains  " — the  limb  ! 

"  India's  coral  strand,"  says  the  hymn  ; 

Over  the  hill,  and  over  the  hollow. 

Like  a  honey-bee,  like  a  swift,  like  a  swallow. 

With  the  strength  and  the  fire  of  the  sowl  that's  in  him, 

Love  goes,  and  will  go — who's  to  pin  him  ? 

Now  rael  wholesome  lo»-e,  my  men. 
Will  allis  have  in  me  a  friend — 
Love  that  is  love — you'll  aisy  know 't — 
Yes,  I'm  very  partial  to  't — 
Very — it's  gettin  over  me ; 
I  can't  rersist  it,  don't  ye  sec  ? 
Can't  rersist  it,  or  not  much, 
Allis  takin  the  part  of  surh. 
Aw  well,  I  tell  ye,  it's  suri)risin. 


THE   INDIAMAN  i6i 

I  was  allis  that  way,  "  semperthizin," 

Says  a  schullar  once  I  was  spinnin  this  twist  to  'm^ 

And  had  as  much  grog  as  was  good  for  his  system — 

Semperthizm,  that's  the  plan — 

Semperthizin,  says  yandhar  man. 

So  maybe  that's  the  raison  he  had 
The  worst  Hckin  of  all,  but  the  last,  poor  lad ! 
The  sun  was  just  down,  and  a  taste  of  cool 
In  the  air,  and  the  sea  was  all  like  gool : 
And  there  I  found  them  sittin  aback 
Of  the  cabin  companion,  and  readin  a  trac', 
Or  somethin  that  way.     Aw  dear  !  I  was  furious, 
Urrov  my  senses  mostly,^  the  curious 
It  was — for  I  stood,  and  I  made  her  rise, 
And  go,  and  she  went,  and  the  tears  in  my  eyes, 
And  the  click  on  my  heart,  and  the  swim  in  my  brain, 
And  to  force  myself  against  the  grain. 
And  couldn  ha'  done  it,  slow  or  swivel,^ 
If  I  hadn  done  it  like  the  divil. 

You  see,  I  had  to  do  my  duty, 

^  Almost  out  of  my  senses.  -  Swiftly. 

M 


l62  THE   INDIAMAX 

And,  for  want  of  a  spur,  I  got  hould  of  the  beauty 

Of  the  chap,  for  somethin  to  keep  my  hard, 

And  intarmint,^  you  know,  that  I  would  regard 

For  nothin,  I^ut  welt  him,  and  her  navar  know'n 

What  was  uj),  but  just  to  be  go'n 

To  her  cabin — And  "  Is  it  your  beauty,  my  son?" 

I  says  ;  "  well  111  spile  it — that's  aisy  done — 

I'll  spile  it,"  I  says,  "  I'll  spile  it !  here  goes  ! " 

And  I  blackened  his  eyes,  and  I  flattened  his  nose, 

And  I  mauled  him  over,  every  scrap, 

Till  his  mother  wouldn  ha'  known  the  chap — 

Aw  boosely,  boosely ! ""  and  navar  a  word 

Urrov  his  mouth — the  pluck,  good  lord  I 

That  is  the  pluck—/)/;/  /le  stri/cc  mc  ?     No  ! 

Couldn  I  ///  a  vice?  just  so  ! 

In  a  vice.     Then  I  loosed  him,  and  then  a  dart 

Went  through  me,  and  I  caught  him  to  my  heart, 

And  cried  and  cried— You'd  ha'  thought  I  was  drunk — 

And  went  and  ])Ut  him  in  his  l)unk. 

And    coaxed    him,  and    nussed    him,  and  washed   him 

there, 
And  made  him  rather  comfibler. 

'  Determine."!.  -  Hcaslly,  brutally. 


THE   I ND I  AM  AN  163 

Then  the  fo'c's'le  had  a  meetin, 
To  see  what  they'd  do,  the  way  I  was  beatin 
Peter ;  and  wtmldn  stand  it^  they  said. 
And  I  went  to  the  meetin,  and  hung  my  head 
Like  a  dog,  I  did.     And  they  grumbled  a  dale — 
Special  a  chap  called  Billy  Sayle — 

But  I  knew  Billy,  but howavar. 

There's  people  thinks  themselves  that  clavar — 

So  I  said — "  Look  here  !  it's  quite  correc'. 

It's  only  just  what  I  ought  to  expec'," 

I  says ;  "  but  still  you  know  nothin  about  it 

At  all,"  I  says  ;  "  so  you  needn  doubt  it — 

Nothin,  no  more  till  brute  bases. 

And  circumstances  alters  cases." 

O  yes  !  they  know'd  it  all  t/ie  same, 
Says  one  of  the  chaps — Aliss  Whaf  s-her-name 
Had  fell  iti  love  with  Peter,  and  he 
Had  fell  in  love  with  he?;  d'ye  see  ? 
And  if  a  gel,  tw  matter  the  luho, 
Was  fell  in  love,  whafs  that  to  you? 
That's  for  her  lover,  isn  iti 
For  him  of  coorse  !     And  for  me  to  sit 


l64  THE   IXDIAMAX 

On  the  felhnu  like  that — //  "wasii  raison, 

No,  it  7i>asn  ;  and  talkin  amazin — 

Talkin,  talkin.     "  You  needn  enlarge 

On  the  subjec','  I  says  :  "  I  takes  full  charge 

Of  the  case,"  I  says  ;  "  it's  all  right ! 

Yes,"  I  says,  "  I've  got  a  light 

About  it  now,"  I  says ;  "and  Peter 

'11  know  my  niaenin  sooner  or  later  : 

And — silence  !  my  men,  now  silence  !  I  say ; 

You'll  find  that's  the  bettcrmost  way  : 

I  had  my  orders,  you  know  where  from." 

Then  says  Peter — "Go  it,  Tom  !  " 

So  of  coorse,  you  see,  1  had  to  do  it. 
Some  way  or  other  to  see  them  through  it. 
Aw,  but  I  spoke  most  sirrious  ' 
To  Peter — aye,  the  very  fuss  - 
I  had  him  by  himself;   and  I  found 
The  lad  was  sirrious  and  sound, 
Sirrious,  and  sound,  and  gud — 
Aw  the  racl  blood  !  the  rael  blood  ! 
No  use  o'  talkin.     So  I  swore  to  him  solium, 

'  Seriously.  -  First  (time). 


THE   INDIAMAN  165 

On  the  Bible,  of  coorse,  on  the  sacred  vollum — 

I  swore  if  they'd  only  be  true  to  each  other, 

And  good  and  that,  it's  father  and  mother 

And  sister  and  brother  they'd  find  in  me — 

But  "  Be  cautious  !  "  I  says,  "  whatever  there'll  be— 

Be  cautious !  and  mind  the  young  you  are — 

And  Miss  Graeme,  of  coorse,  '11  be  meetin  her  par 

All  right,  and  then  you'll  be  tellin  him  all — 

But  cautious  !  cautious  !  that's  the  call." 

And  now  for  sure  ^  I  had  the  trouble. 
Double,  of  coorse — it  had  to  be  double — 
Them  two  to  look  after  lek  shuperintandin. 
Like  a  father,  you  know,  lek  for  me  to  be  standin 
Betwix  them  and  the  Skipper,  that  he  wouldn  be  knowin 
About  this  coortin  that  was  goin. 

^ 

Aye,  and  I  had  a  talk  with  the  two 
About  it,  you  know,  and  what  to  do, 
And  the  time  and  the  place  ;  and  me  to  be  there 
Allis — aw  certainly — only  fair  ! 
But  needn  be  lookin — at  least  I  could, 

^  Indeed. 


i66  THE   IXDIAMAN 

If  I  liked  :  and  the  book — that  was  understood- 

Navar  without  the  book,  no,  no  ! 

And  readin  nice  and  proper  though — 

And  settled  it  with  them,  and  Peter  chatifin, 

And  Miss  Fanny  fit  to  die  with  laughin  : 

But  I  was  dreadful  sirrious  : 

And  so,  when  all  was  agreed,  she  bust 

A-cryin  ;  and  jjurly  it  was  to  see  her  ; 

And  she  called  me  a  darlin,  and  an  ould  dear — 

Ould  I  wasn,  not  to  say — 

But  still,  my  goodness !  that's  their  way. 

Well,  the  hook  was  got,  the  IJible  it  was, 
My  Bible,  a  splendid  Bible,  and  lost 
Betwix  them  someway ;  and  tex'  for  tex'. 
And  clear  as  a  whistle,  and  all  as  correck's ' 
A  Sunday  school.     But  then  they  begun 
To  change  the  vesses-  astonishun — 
Aw  bless  ye !  pretendin  to  read  their  parts  out, 
.And  talkin  !  talkin  their  very  hearts  out  ; 
.\nd  the  eye  on  the  book  as  stiff  as  stay.s. 
But  coortin  reg'lar,  and  coorted  their  ways 
'  Correct  as.  '•'  Verses. 


THE   INDIAMAN  167 

Through  Genesis  and  Exodus. 

And  then  I  gave  a  bit  of  a  cuss, 

And  I  says — "You'd  better  be  havin  a  hymn 

Now,"  I  says  :  but  just  the  same — ■ 

SHppin  in  a  word  on  the  sly, 

Or  puttin  meanins — navar  say  die  ! 

And  me  goin  on — but  couldn  stop  it. 

And  apt  to  be  noticed,  and  had  to  drop  it. 

One  day  I  heard  a  kiss,  and  I  turned. 
And  looked  at  them  straight,  and  their  faces  burned 
With  the  shame  ;  and  I  said — "  Just  overhaul 
The  articles,"  I  says,  "  that's  all — 
The  whole  of  them — first  and  second  lesson — ■ 
Do  !     Now  was  there  a  word  about  kissin  ? 
Now  then  ?  now  ?     Don't  interrup' ! 
I  think  I'll  have  to  give  it  up — 
To  give  the  whole  thing  up ;  I'd  ax 
What  else  can  I  do  ?  "     So  Miss  Fanny  made  tracks, 
But  very  slow  and  dignified, 
Rather  touchy— of  coorse,  the  pride — 
Aw  pride  enough — but  navar  mind  ! 
But  Peter  was  mad ;  and  he  stayed  behind. 


i68  THE   IXDIAMAN 

And  had  it  out  with  nic  there  and  then — 

Aw  terble  mad  he  was,  to  begin — 

And  \{  /le  was  mad,  then  so  was  /, 

You  may  depend  ;  and  words  got  high  ; 

And  he  called  me  this,  and  he  called  me  that, 

And  he  called  me  an  ould  tom-cat — 

And — ///>'  /war/  7c>as  hard,  and — /  dhin  kno7i.<  how 

To  behave  to  a  hidy,  no  more  tUl  a  cow  ; 

And  I  hadn  no  manners,  and  I  hadn  no  fee/ins. 

And  on  and  on,  like  priddha  ^  peclins. 

But  at  last  I  gripped  him ;  and  then  we  agreed 
To  'llowance  the  kisses,  and  navar  exceed 
One  a  sittin  ;  and  me  to  he  i)resent. 
But  not  to  be  lookin — aw  bless  ye  !  the  pleasant 
He  got,  and  the  cjuite ;-'  and  says  he,  "What  fun  I 
You're  a  brick,"  he  says.      lUii  bless  ye  I  the  one 
Was  made  into  two,  and  three,  and  four. 
And  half  a  dozen,  and  half  a  score — 
Till  the  tally  ^  got  mixed  lek  in  general, 
And  our  'llowancin  didn  answer  at  all — 
Aw  bless  ye  !  just  like  bread-and-butter. 

'  Potato.  *  Quiet.  ^  Reckoning. 


THE   INDIAMAN  169 

Glad  I  was  when  we  got  to  Calcutta — 
And  the  Colonel  and  the  carriage  and  pair, 
And  coachman  and  footman,  all  of  them  there ; 
And  didn  know  the  daughter  at  all — 

No,  but  had  to  be wh-d'ye-call 

Inthrerjuced  ?  aye,  inthrerjuced. 

Poor  sowl ! — aw  dear  !  and  her  eyes  all  sluiced 

With  the  tears ;  and  glad  enough  of  the  father, 

But  still of  coorse,  and  'd  obvious  rather 

'a  stayed  with  us and — Peter when 

Was  she  avar  goin  to  see  him  again  ? 
And  him  at  the  gangway  like  aside  of  a  grave 
She  was  lowrin  into  ;  and  then  she  gave 
A  look  at  him,  that  you'd  have  thought 
All  heaven  and  earth  was  took  and  brought 
In  the  one  bright  flash  of  love  and  longing 
And  forget-me-not,  and  the  people  thronging. 
And  all  the  row,  and  all  the  bother — 
That's  the  last  they  seen  of  each  other. 

Well  now,  I  wouldn  trust  ^  it  'd  be  runnin 
In  the  teens  of  years,  I  was  comin  to  Lunnon 

'   I  almost  think. 


I70  THE   INDIAMAN 

Once  from  Liverpool,  to  join  a  ship, 

And,  just  gettin  out  o'  the  train,  trip-trip — 

And  a  voice  behind  me  I  thought  I  knew — 

"Mr.  Baynes,  is  that  you?" 

I  turned,  and,  behould  ye  !  there  was  the  woman, 

No  mistake,  but  grew  uncommon — 

Splendid  she  was — "  Miss  Fanny  Clraeme," 

I  says,  "your  sarvint is  it  a  dhrame?" 

I  says;  says  she — "Just  hould  your  tongue  ! 

You're  speakin  to  Mrs.  Peter  Young ; 

And  here's  my  eldest  son,"  says  she — 

And  as  fine  a  l)oy  as  ever  you'd  see — 

"So  you  married  him?"  and  she  nodded  her  head- 

"  Yes  of  course."—"  Aw  dear  !  "  I  said. 


THE    CHRISTENING 

HouLD  him  up ! 

Hould  him  up  ! 

Joy  !  joy  ! 

Hould  him  up  !  hould  him  up  ! 

Is  that  the  boy  ? 

Hould  him  up  ! 

Stand  out  of  the  way,  women, 
Stand  out  of  the  way  ! 
Here,  Misthress  Shimmin  ! 
Here,  I  say ! 
Here !  here ! 
Aw  dear ! 
Is  this  him  ? 
Every  limb 
Taut  and  trim — 


172  THE  CHRISTENING 

Here's  a  hull ! 

Here's  a  breast — 

Like  a  bull  I 

He's  got  my  finger  in  his  fess  ^ 

He  hess  !  -  he  hess  ! 

Look  at  the  grip  ! 
Is  that  a  smile  upon  his  lip  ? 
He  can't  do  that ! 
What !   what ! 
Smile ! 
My  gough  !  what  a  chile  ! 

Feci  the  gristle ! 
Feel  it  though  ! 
Stop !  ril  whistle— 

Whew !  bo  ! 

A\'hat's  he  doin  ? 

Is  it  cooin 

You  call  it  when  he  goes  like  yandhar  ? 

See  his  eyes  the  way  they  wandher ! 

Hullo!  hullo! 

'  Kist.  2  Has. 


THE  CHRISTENING  173 

Where  '11  you  go  ?  where  '11  you  go  ? 
Keep  her  so ! 

There's  a  look  ! 
There's  another  ! 
The  little  rook  ! 
What's  he  wantin 
With  this  gallivantin  ? 
Ah  !  the  mother  !  ah  !  the  mother  ! 
Yiss  !  yiss  !   muss  hev  a  kiss  ! 
Aw  Kitty,  Kitty  bogh  ^ ! 
Aw  my  gough ! 
Kitty  darlin  !  Kitty  then  ! 
And  me  so  far  away  ! 
The  hard  it  muss  ha'  ben  !  - 
Were  you  freckened,^  Kitty,  eh  ? 
Navar  mind ! 
Here  I  am  ! 
As  consigned  ! 
And,    axin  your  pardon,   Misthress  Shimmin, 

ma'am. 
Here's  the  joy  ! 

^  Poor.  ^  iMust  have  been.  ^  Frightened. 


174  THE   CHRISTENING 

Here's  our  boy,  Kitty  ! 
Here's  our  l)oy ! 

Listen  !  I'll  tell  you  a  thing — 
By  jing ! 

I've  calkcrlated  it  to  a  dot, 
But  whether  or  not — 
The  very  night  Kitty  was  tuk — 
Just  three  days. 
If  you  plaze, 

Out  of  Dantzic,  there  was  a  sea  struck — 
Jemmy  '11  remember — 
Ever)-  timber 
Shuck ! 

Close-hauled,  you  know,  and  I  navar  touid  ye. 
But  behould  ye ! 
In  the  trough  there,  rowlin  in  it, 
Just  that  minute — 
I  saw  a  baby,  as  plain, 
Passin  by  on  a  slant  of  rain 
To  leeward,  and  his  little  shiff ' 
Streamin  away  in  the  long  gray  driff. 

'  Shift. 


THE  CHRISTENING  i75 

I  saw  him  there — you  didn  regard  ^  me — 

But  his  face  was  toward  me — 

Oughtn't  I  to  know  him  ? 

Well,  I  saw  him  afore  Kitty  saw  him  ! 

I  saw  him,  and  there  he  ess,^ 

There  upon  his  mother's  breast. 

The  very  same,  I'll  assure  ye ; 

And  I  think  that'll  floor  ye  ! 

And  his  body  all  in  a  blaze  of  light — 

A  dirty  night ! 

"  Where  was  he  goin  ?  " 

Who's  knowin  ? 

He  was  in  a  hurry  in  any  case. 

And  the  Baltic  is  a  lonesome  place — 

But  here  he  is,  all  right ! 

Here  he  is  now  !  joy  !  joy  ! 

God  bless  the  boy  ! 

Have  you  tould  the  Pazon  ?  what  did  he  say  ? 
Has  he  seen  him — ould  Pazon  Gale  ? 
Aw  you  tould  the  Pazon  anyway  ! 
Tould  !   he'll  turn  the  scale 

1  See.  -  Is. 


176  THE  CHRISTENING 

At  thirty  pound, 
I'll  be  bound. 

Did  you  put  it  in  the  papers  ? 
No,  no  !     What  capers  ! 
No,  no ! 

Splendid  though  ! 
Upon  my  life — 
Catharine,  "wife 
Of  Moufiseer 
Eddard  Creer, 
Es(/ueer, 

Ot/itnc'ise  dadaa, 
Of  a  son  and  hecr  ! 
Hip-hip-hip-hii),  hooraa  I 

Bless  my  sowl !  am  I  draemin  ? 
He'll  make  a  seaman 
\<\\\  yandhar  lad — 
Aw  the  glad  ! 

Yiss  !  yiss  !  Misthress  Shimmin,  certainly  ! 
(io  down  to  the  smack, 
Jemmy,  and  see — 
Yiss!  Misthrcss  Shimniin 


THE  CHRISTENING  177 

And  all  the  rest  of  the  women — • 

'Scuse  me,  ladies  !  rather  'cited — 

Just  the  delighted,  you  know,  the  delighted  ! 

And  every  raison  to  suppose 

(See  him  cockin  his  nose  !) 

That  the  best  of  care 

And  ceterar 

r II  get  that  with  Misthress  Shimmin — did  ye  say  ? 
Eh? 

Go,  Jemmy,  they're  lyin  quite  handy, 
A  bottle  of  rum  and  another  of  brandy, 
In  the  starboard  locker  theer — 
And,  Jemmy  !  there's  a  taste  of  gin — 
Aw  navar  fear  ! 
Tell  the  chaps  to  finish  it — 
All  the  kit— 

And  listen — tell  ould  Harper 
We'll  take  and  warp  her 
Inside 

On  the  morning's  tide — 
About  hafe-past  four  '11  be  time  to  begin — 
My  gough  !  but  we'll  have  a  chrizzenin  ! 

N 


PEGGY'S   WEDDING 

"  Is  that  you,  Peggy  ?  my  goodness  me  ! 

And  so  dark  still  I  can  hardly  sec  ! 

W^ait,  woman,  wait ! 

I'll  come  down  ;  ye  needn  go  on  hommerin  at  such  a  rate. 

Here's  the  master  snorin 

Like  a  mill,  and  you  to  be  breakin  the  door  in — 

It's  just  disthractin,  that's  what  it  is — 

Aisy,  woman  !  yis  !  yis  ! — 

There's  people  '11  snore — where's  that  perricut  ? 

There's  people  '11  hommer — my  gough  !  that  slut ! 

I'm  comin  !  I'm  comin  ! 

God  bless  the  woman  ! 

I  navar  heard  such  a  row 

"  Aw  dear  !  aw  dear !  aw  the  craythur !  aw  poor  Peggy, 
what's  the  matter  with  you  now  ? 
Come  in  !  come  in  !  the  sowl !  the  sowl ! 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  179 

What  is  it,  Peggy,  what?  and  where  have  you  left  Dan  Cowle? 

Is  he  outside  in  the  street  ? — well,  where  is  he  then  ? 

Did  you  call  at  the  halfway-house  ?   did  he  get — aw  bless 

these  men ! 
Did  he  fall  on  the  road  ?     No,  ye  say,  no  ? 
Well  then  where  did  he  go  ? 
Is  he  lyin  in  the  ditch  ? 

Did  he  lave  you,  or  did  you  lave  him — which  ? 
You  left  him  ? 
So  I    suppose  it's  not  a  man  you're  wantin  at  all,  but  a 

cherubim  ? 
Aye !  aye  ! 
Middlin  high-! 

"  And  you  that  were  married  only  yesterday,  and  the 

weddin  out  of  this  house — 
To  be  comin  home  in  the  mornin  all  ragg'd  and  rumpled 

like  a  reg'lar  trouse  ^ — 
Peggy,  Peggy  !      Yoiid  like  to  blow  the  fire,  Just  to  feel 
YouWe  at  home  again — eh,  Peggy?    Don't  kneel!  don't  kneel! 
Don't  be  foolish,  Peggy.     There  !  take  the  bellows. 
And  blow  away ! 

'  Slattern. 


I  So  PEGGVS  WEDDING 

And  we'll  have  a  cup  o'  tay, 

And  then  you'll  tell  us. 

Why— Dan  Cowle  !  Uan  Ballabroo  ! 

A  dacent  man,  and  well-to-do  ! 

Dan  !  Dan  Cowle  !  dear  heart ! 

And  the  beautiful  ye  went  away  in  the  cart  ! 

And  you've  tuk  and  left  him  !  left  Dan  ! 

Left  the  man  !  " 

"  Man  !  did  ye  say  ?  aw  Misthriss,  Misthriss  !  what  are  ye 

talk  in  ? 
Man  !  do  ye  call  that  craythur  a  man,  because  he's  a  thing 

that's  walk  in 
On  two  legs,  and  a  tongue  in  his  head  ?  a  beautiful  surt ' 
Of  a  man — you  call  him  a  man,  I  call  him  a  dirt ! 
That's  what  I  call  him — a  dirt,  and  a  sneak,  and  a  dunkey — 
Man  !  if  that  chap's  a  man,  he's  a  cross  twix  a  man  and  a 

monkey  ! 
And  a  touch  of  a  divil,  and  a  touch  of  a  fool — 
Listen,  Misthriss,  listen  !     We  warn  half-way  up  Harrule, 
When  I  thought  he'd  ha'  stayed  a  bit — and  only  raisonablc 

he  shud — 

>  Son. 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  i8i 

At  Kinvigs's — bein  a  thing  lek  that's  general  understood — 
^\Tiat's  halfway-houses  for,  I'd  like  to  know- 
Just  so  ! 

You  wouldn  be  agen  ^  that  ? 
What  ? 

"  Certainly  !   and  company  waitin — and   just  a  drop  to 

warm  a  body — 
And  dear  me  !  what  is  there  in  half  a  glass  of  rum,  or  a 

whole  glass,  for  the  matter  of  that,  to  harm  a  body  ? 
And  well  you  know  it  isn  the  dhrink  I  regard — 
Well  you  know  that— but  still  a  body's  hardly  prepar'd 
To  pass  the  only  public-house  on  the  road  drivin  home  on 

your  weddin  night — 
It  isn  right, 

Nor  correck,  nor  friendly,  nor  in  any  surt  of  a  concatenation 
Lek  accordin  to  your  station — 

And  disappintin  people  that  way,  when  they're  trustin 
Your  proper  feelins,  is  quite  disgustin. 

"  So  I  lays  my  hand  on  his  arm,  just  by  way  of  signifyin — 
Nothin  more — and  behould  ye  !  he  cocks  hisself  up  as  stiff 
and  as  dignifyin, 

^  Against. 


1 82  PEGGY'S  WEDDING 

And  rip  !  and  rup  !  and  chip  !  and  chup  ! 

And  '  There's  nobody  up,'  he  says :  noliody  up  ! 

And  glasses  jinglin,  and  windows  blazin, 

And  people  comin  out,  and  shoutin  amazin 

To  stop — but  no !   but  sticks  his  elbers  like  skewers  in  a 

body — 
'  \Vhat ! '  I  says,  '  not  a  glass  of  toddy  ? 
Just  for  neighbourly  dacency?' 
'  It's  surprisin  how  early  they're  goin  to  bed,'  says  he. 
'  Goin  to  bed  ! '  says  I.     '  Yes,'  he  says — niiddlin  snarly — 
'  Kinvigs's  was  allis  early,'  he  says,  'partic'lar  early  ' — 
And  his  ould  hoss  gallopin,  and  hcisin   his   hindquarters, 

and  work  in 
Like  a  see-saw,  and  Ijunipin  and  jerkin. 
And  sent  me  flyin,  with  my  head  in  tlie  bottom  of  the  cart, 

and  my  feet  in  the  air, 
And  the  rest  of  me — anywhere. 

"  So  he  puts  out  his  hand — 
'  Bless  my  sowl  ! '  he  says,  '  I  thought  it  was  gone  I ' 
'  What  ? '  says  I.     '  The  box,'  he  says,  maenin  my  box,  and 

my  wcddin  bonnet 
Smashed  to  jammy     '  1  wish  you'd  sit  upon  it,' 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  183 

He  says — the  box,  of  coorse.     So  I  thought  I'd  be  a  little 

lovin 
And  that — and  I  comes  up  lek  gradjal,  lek  shiftin  and  shovin 
Lek  agen  him  in  a  way.     And  I  says,  '  I'd  like  to  be  with 

you,'  says  I, 
'  My  own  husband,'  I  says ;  for  I  thought  it  better  to  try 
Was  there  just  a  taste 
Of  anything  of  a  husband  in  him  :  so  he  put  his  arm  round 

my  waist — 
Not  round  either — for  he  couldn  do  that — 
Not  for  the  stout  I  am,  bein  allis  a  gintale  figger,  but  just 

like  a  lath, 
Flat 

Agen  the  back  o'  my  stays,  and  not  the  smallest  curl 
Or  squeeze  in  the  ould  pump-handle,  not  the  smallest  in  the 

worl' — 

"  And  his  eyes  on  the  box — and  '  There  it's  goin  ! ' 
He  says,  and  waein  and  woin — 
And  as  restless.     And  then  we  got  on  the  mountain ;  and 

the  ling 
Was  smellin  very  sweet  in  the  dark,  and  a  stream  began 

ting-ting-ting 


i84  PEGGY'S  WEDDING 

Down  the  other  way— very  pleasant,  and  it  got  couldher, 
And  I  thought  it  was  only  a  'spectable  thing  to  put  my  head 
on  his  shouldhcr. 

"  Oh  dear  !  he  got  as  crabbit 
As  an  ould  buck  rabbit ; 
And  he  hitched  and  he  hunched,  and  he  cribbed  and  he 

crunched, 
Till  he  was  all  bunched 
In  a  lump ;  and  anyway  his  blades  that  sharp 
And  snaggy  you  might  as  well  ha'  leaned  your  head  on  the 

backbone  of  a  carp. 

"  So  I  didn  care,  and  I  sat  up  as  straight 
And  as  indcpandin.     It  was  gettin  late 
When  we  come  to  his  house  ;  and  there  was  a  falla  theer 

standin  on  the  look-out 
On  the  very  top  of  the  midden,  and  jumps  down,  and  grips 

the  boss,  and  gives  a  big  shout, 
And    '  Look    here ! '    he   says,    '  who's   goin    to   pay    mc  ? ' 

'  Pay  ! ' 
Thinks  I — and  this  ould  fool  goin  seerchin  away 
In  all  his  pockets— and  gev  a  start, 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  185 

And  '  Bless  my  heart ! ' 

He  says,   'hev  I  lost  it?  hev  I  lost  it?'  and  twisses  and 

wriggles 
Hisself  into  knots— and  the  other  chap  stands  and  sniggles— 
A  young  chap — And  '  Dear  me  ! '  says  Dan,  '  it  must  ha' 

dropt  out  on  the  road  comin — 
It's    very   disthressin,'   he   says.     '  Faith    then !    you're    a 

rummin,' 
Says  the  chap,  and  like  to  buss  ^ — 
'  What's  the  use  o'  talkin  ? '  says  Dan  Cowle,  '  I've  lost  my 

puss. 
Where's  your   puss,   Peggy?   maybe,'  he  says,   'you'll  not 

mind 
Payin  the  man,'  he  says — '  if  you'll  be  so  kind,' 
He  says — but  oh  !  that  creepin,  and  that  sneakin,  and  that 

slewin  and  that  screwin, 
Like  a  conger  just.     And  '  What's  a  doin  ? ' 
Says  I ;  '  isn  it  your  own  cart  you  got  ?  ' 

'Well no it's  not,' 

He  says,  '  I  must  confess — 
The  fact  of  the  matter  is,'  he  says, 
'  My  own  cart  is  bruk  very  bad, 

1  Burst. 


i86  PEGGY'S  WEDDING 

And  I  borrowed  this  one  for  the  occasion.'     So  I  paid  the 
lad. 

"  'Aye,  aye !  his  cart  is  bruk  very  bad,'  says  the  chap, 
'  Likewise  his  trap. 
And  the  phaeton,  and  the  barooch,  and  the  jantin-car,  and 

the  family  coach-and-four ' — 
And  he  gcv  a  roor 
Out  of  hisself,  this  young  divil — 
And  '  Hurrah  for  the  weddiners  ! '  he  says.     '  Be  civil !  be 

civil  ! ' 
Says  Dan,  '  be  civil,  young  man,  it  would  well  become  ye  ' — 
But  says  I — '  Take  your  money  and  your  cart,'  I  says,  '  and 

be  off  with  ye,  ye  scum  ye  ! 
Be  off ! '  1  says,  '  stir  your  stumps  ! ' 
(These  Fo.xdale  lumps ' 

Is  pirriful."")     And  Dan  with  the  box  on  the  street,  and  pokin 
The  key  in  the  door — and,  you  know,  I  seen  the  chimbley 

wasn  smokin 
Nor  nothin — nor  no  cowhouse  about  that  I  could  see, 
Nor  no  garden,  nor  a  bush,  let  alone  a  tree — 
But  just  a  crock 

'   Lads.  ■'  ritiful,  tlctcslahlc. 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  187 

Standin  on  a  rock, 

And  water  runnin  in  it  very  free 

At  the  gable,  and  slishin  and  slushin,  and  muckin  the  street 

Under  one's  feet. 

"  And  this  is  the  man  that  tould  me  he'd  make  me 
So  comfible ! 
But  still 

You'll  not  mistake  me, 
You  know  me,  Misthriss,  don't  ye  ?  and  you  know  I  wouldn 

flinch, 
No,  not  even  if  I  was  deceived — no,  not  an  inch  ; 
On  I'd  go,  through  the  smooth  and  the  rough. 
Content  enough — 

For  richer  for  poorer,  for  better  for  wuss — 
Lost  his  p2css  ! 

Had  he  ?  lost  two  !  lost  twenty  ! 
Give  me  a  man  with  a  lovin  heart,  Misthriss,  with  a  lovin 

heart — 
That's  plenty- 
Plenty  for  me — navar  mind  the  cart — 
With  a  lovin  heart,  and  some  wit  about  him — 
And  I'd  navar  doubt  him 


1 88  PEGGY'S  WEDDING 

Misthriss — no  I  for  better  for  ivuss — 

Them's  the  words,  and  didn  the   Pazon  say  them  ?     And 

I'd  nuss 
His  childher,  and  I'd  work,  and  I'd  slave,  and  I'd  die 
Before  I'd  be  beat — and  still  a  lie 
Is  a  dirty  thing — fore  or  aft, 
As  the  sailors  is  sayin — 
But  listen  again — 
Misthriss  !  Misthriss  !  you  don't  know  half 

"So  we  got  in,  however,  and  he  groped  about,  and  he 

found  a  flint-and-stecl, 
And  he  skinned  his  ould  knuckles  all  like  a  priddha '  peel, 
Streck-strcckin  away  ;  and,  when  he  por"  a  ]i;j;ht  at  last, 
You  navar  seen  such  a  rookery — a  dresser  there  was — 
Yis — but  hardly  a  jjlate  or  a  bason,  or  any  other  surt  o'  war'. 
And  a  hape  of  mouldy  turmits  •'  in  a  corner  there — could, 

comfortless  things  they  are — 
And  a  rot-hole,'  or  a  shot-hole,  I  don't  know  which,  and  I 

don't  care  etha',^ 
And  a  barrel  that  looked  Hkc  male,  with  a  Hag  or  a  slate 

on  tliL-  top  of  it,  and  a  mcdha," 

•  (jot.  •'  Turnips.  *  l\at-hoIe. 

*  Either.  "  Small,  onc-handlcd  tub. 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  189 

And  a  pot,  and  nothin  in  it,  and  no  fire,  if  there  had  been, 

and  as  for  bed  or  beddin — 
Well,  I  dedn  throuble,  no,  faith,  I  dedn. 

"  It  was  a  house  that  if  you  were  inside  you'd  see  about 
as  much  sky  as  roof, 
A  surt  o'  mixthar  o'  the  two,  and  a  touch  of  harry-long- 

legses  and  spiders — aw,  it's  the  troof !  ^  it's  the  troof, 
The  troof  I'm  tellin ;  and  the  scraas  -  hangin  in  rags  and 

strings  of  dirt  as  black 
You  couldn  tell  were  they  scraas,  or  strips   tore    from   a 

rotten  ould  sack, 
Or  nettin  or  somethin.     And  I  can  tell  ye  the  chap  begun, 

as  a  body  might  say. 
To  look  rather  ashamed  of  hisself— I  think  so— in  a  way— 
Yis — he  didn  look  at  me  for  a  bit  at  all. 
But  cocked  his  face  agen  the  wall. 

"  And—'  It's  too  late,'  he  says,  '  it's  too  late  for  supper,  I 
suppose ' — 
And  ye  might  have  sniffed  and  sniffed  till  ye  straint  your 

nose 
Afore  you'd  ha'  got  a  smell  of  supper  in  yandhar  place — 
1  TnUh.  *  Strips  of  sod  laid  on  the  rafters  under  the  thatch. 


I90  PEGGY'S  WEDDING 

But  he  turned  at  last,  and  I  saw  his  face — 

Workin,  workin,  workin  most  terrible, 

And  screwin  the  eye,  and  workin  still — 

And — '  Let's  sit  down  a  bit,'  he  says,  and  he  studdied  the 

candle,  if  ye  plaze,  and  he  looks  up  as  innocent  as  a 

linnet, 
And  he  says,  'That's  a  nice  puss  you've  got,'  he  says ;  'how 

much  is  there  in  it  ?' 
And  I  tould  him  ^4 :  i6s.  and  2 id.  farlin — 
So    he  says,  '  That's  a  nice  little  bit  o'  money,  my  darlin — 
Let's  see  it,'  he  says. 

So  I  gev  it  to  him,  ye  know ; 
.\nd  he  counted   it  out,   I   tell  ye,  every  coin   of  it,  very 

slow — 
Very  slow  he  counted — and  then — what  d'ye  think? 
Whips  it  in  his  pocket !     '  A  nice  lump  of  jink  ! ' 
Says  Dan  ;  and  he  snuggled  up  closer  to  me,  and  he  began 

to  fiddle  and  fiddle, 
Lek  tryin  to  span  me  round  the  middle — 
Some  surt  o  coorft'til  thinks  1,  /ic s  iinproviti^  /doubt — 
The  ould  villyan  !  he  was  just  tryin  to  find  out 
Had  I  any  more  stitched  up  in  my  stays ! 
And  a  man  with  such  ways — 


PEGGY'S  WEDDING  191 

Would  you  call   him  a  man  ?   now  would  ye,   Misthriss  ? 

would  ye,  though  ? 
That  was  the  fiddlin — aye  !  he  said  it,  he  said  it  hisself,  the 

ould  crow  ! 
Yis,  and  his  dirty  ould  mouth  all  of  a  pucker,  and  grippin 

and  nippin, 
And  declarin  he  felt  the  shillins  slippin 
Between  the  quiltins — aw  dear  !  aw  dear  ! 
But  I  was  enough  for  him — navar  fear  ! 

"I  says — ^'This  is  no  place  for  me,'  I  says;  and  up  I 
jumps — 
'  I'm  off,'  I  says ;  and  he  rattles  his  ould  stumps — 
And — 'Off?'    he    says  —  'why   you've    not    opened    your 

box  yet ! ' 
'  Clear   out   o'   the   road ! '    I    says.      '  I    hevn   seen   your 

frocks  yet,' 
He  says,   '  nor  the  sheetin  nor  nothin  ! — just  give  us  that 

key — 
It's  every  bit  my  proppity  ! '  he  says.     '  Out  o'  the  way  ! ' 
I  says,  and  I  gript  the  box.     But  if  I  gript  it,  he  gript  it, 

and  he  shouted  and  bawled, 
And  backards  and  forrards  we  tugged  and  we  hauled ; 


192  PEGGY'S  WEDDING 

And  we  staggered  this  way,  and  we  staggered  that  way, 
And  higgledy-piggledy,  and  I  cannot  tell  what  way — 
But  I  gev  him  a  run  in  on  the  dresser,  and  his  ould  back  bent, 
And down  he  went ! 

"  And  the  crockery — what  there  was — all  smashed — well 
to  be  sure ! 

And  the  turmits  rowlin  on  the  floor — 

So  the  box  was  mine,  and  I  out  on  the  door. 

'  Murdher !  tieves  ! '  and  he  run  after  me  full  trot — 

'  You're  a  robber ! '  he  says ;   '  you've  robbed  me  !  every- 
thing you  got 

Belongs  to  me — I'll  bring  a  shuit,'  he  says,  'I'll  bring  a  shuit 

For  damagers  ! '  he  says — the  ould  brute — 

'  I'll  have  your  life  1 "  he  says, 

'  Ar'n  you  my  wife  ? '  he  says — 

'  Murdher  ! '  he  says,  '  murdher  ! ' — '  Murdhcr — your  granny,' 

I  says — 'Good-bye,  Dan  Cowle !  good-bye,  Danny  !' 

And  I  left  him  standin  in  the  road ;  and  here  I  am,  as  you 
see — 

And,    Misthriss !    no   more   wcddins,   aw   good   sakcs !    no 
more  wcddins  for  me  !  " 


MARY   QUAYLE 

The  Curate's  Story 

We  went  to  climb  Barrule, 

Wind  light,  air  cool — 

But  when  we  reached  the  crest 

That  fronts  Cornaa, 

A  black  cloud  leaned  its  breast 

Upon  the  bay — 

And,  seeing  from  Ayre  to  Maughold  Head 

The  long  wings  spread 

Slumb'rous  with  brazen  light, 

Swift  dropping  from  the  height 

We  follow 

The  crags  that  northward  shoot, 

And  find  ourselves  within  the  hollow 

Of  Gob-ny-Scuit — 

o 


194  MARY  QUAYLE 

Spout-mouth — so  named  because 
It  seems  as  if  a  giant's  jaws 
Gaped  wide — 
Ent'ring,  we  lay  down  side  by  side. 

Then  Richard  said — 
"This  is  the  place — 
Long  years  have  fled  ; 
But  still  I  see  her  face. 

Just  here  where  you  are  she  was — yes,  just  here — 
I  had  long  thought  she  loved  me  ;   but  you  know  the  fear- 
Had  thought, — but  now  by  what  sweet  word  made  bolder 
I  cannot  tell ; 
Only  her  dear  head  fell 
Upon  my  shoulder. 

And  she  looked  up  into  my  eyes — and  this 
Was  our  first  kiss." 

As  Richard  spoke,  from  out  that  awlul  cloud 
The  lightning  leaped,  and  loud 
The  i)oom 

Of  the  long  thunder  thrilled  the  deei)'ning  gloom. 
Then  Richard  spoke  again--" That  very  day 


MARY  QUAYLE  195 

Next  year  I  came  this  way, 

But  it  was  different : 

Yes,  God  had  sent 

A  trial  that  was  hard  to  bear ; 

And  so  I  went, 

And  took  my  care 

Up  to  these  hills. 

Alone,  alone  ! 

And  knelt,  and  prayed  to  Him  who  bends  our  wills. 

And  can  subdue  them  to  His  own — 

"  For  Mary  .  .  .  Mary  [Oh  how  the  lightning  flashed  ! 
Oh  how  the  thunder  crashed  !] 
Dic^     No,  she  did  not  die — I  thought  you  knew — 
Sir,  Mary  was  not  true.  .  .  . 
Yes,  sir,  I  will  be  patient — you  shall  see — 
Patient — O  certainly — 
Patient — God  knows  I  am ;  God  knows  I've  need  to  be. 

"  Mary  was  ruined,  sir ; 
She  bore  a  child  that  was  not  mine — 
Nay,  do  not  stir — 
The  lightning,  is  it  ?     Sir,  we  may  resign 


196  MARY  QUAYLE 

UTiat's  ours,  if  so  we  make  it  happier ; 

But  oh  !  to  see  it  in  the  dust, 

Down-trodden,  broken — 

Aye,  and  by  one  in  whom  you  had  full  trust. 

Stained  and  defiled. 

This  is  the  grief  that  never  can  be  spoken — 

"  This  was  my  grief.     The  father  of  her  child 
\Vas  a  young  gentleman,  who  came  to  spend 
A  summer  in  the  Island.     Truest  friend 
He  seemed  to  me — he  had  such  hearty  ways 
With  men  like  us.     It  was  his  holidays 
At  Oxford  College — that's  where  scholars  go 
To  learn  for  clergymen — but,  sir,  you  know — 
You  were  at  Oxford^well,  well,  never  mind — 
I  loved  the  lad,  so  gentle  and  so  kind 
He  was  ;  and  fond  enough  he  seemed  of  me, 
And  always  wishing  for  my  company. 

"  So  he  and  I  were  friends,  and  took  delight 
In  one  another.      Hadn't  we  the  right  ? 
And  yet  he  never  knew  that  Mary  Quaylc 
Was  anything  to  me.      To  hand  the  sail, 


MARY  QUAYLE  197 

To  steer,  to  haul,  he  would  himself  devote ; 
We  never  talked  of  sweethearts  in  the  boat. 
He  wasn't  much  account  when  he  began. 
But  came  to  be  a  splendid  fisherman — 
I  taught  him  everything,  except  to  swim — 
He  beat  me  there ;  and  I  was  fond  of  him. 

"  The  days  were  short,  the  leaves  were  thin  and  brown, 
When  Mr.  Herbert  Dynely  left  the  town. 
I  rowed  him  to  the  steamer :  when  we  fetched, 
He  jumped  upon  the  paddle-box,  and  stretched 
His  hand  for  mine,  and  would  not  let  it  go — 
'  God  bless  you,  Dick  ! '  he  cried  ;  '  I  hardly  know 
If  ever  I  shall  see  your  face  again.' 
And  looked  and  looked.     I  thought  the  very  strain 
Of  truth  was  in  his  eye  ;  and  so  I  yearned 
To  him,  and  could  not  speak.     But,  if  I'd  turned, 
I  might  have  seen  a  window  where  a  face 
As  white  as  death  was  glued  against  the  glass — 
Long  after,  when  the  talk  was  everywhere. 
Some  people  told  me  who  had  seen  her  there. 
It  was  an  early  sailing,  and  the  sun 
Shot  in  upon  her,  level  like  a  gun — 


198  MARY  QUAYLE 

And  they  saw  her — 

God  in  heaven  ! 

(Forgiven  !  yes,  forgiven  ! 

But  saw  her.) 

Stupid,  half-naked,  so  they  said, 

Sprung  from  her  bed, 

Her  breast 

All  pressed, 

Crushed,  murdered,  on  the  sill, 

Like  a  woman  that's  not  respectable. 

"  No,  I  knew  nothing  all  the  time ;  nor  after, 
For  many  a  week — I've  sat  with  her,  and  chafTed  her 
Because  she  was  more  silent  than  she  used; 
And  yet  she  never  looked  a  bit  confused, 
But  sweet  and  gentle  as  a  girl  could  be, 
So  sweet  and  gentle  still  she  was  to  me. 
Indeed,  I  think  that  she  looked  happier 
Than  ever  she  had  done — I  saw  in  her 
A  deeper  joy ;  so  that  our  love  would  seem 
Sometimes  a  dream  within  another  dream. 

"  And  so  it  was  :  and  what  the  dreaming  meant 


MARY  QUAYLE  199 

I  had  no  thought,  and  I  was  quite  content. 

I  looked  into  her  eyes,  and  saw  as  far 

As  made  me  happy — that's  the  way  we  are — 

A  swimmer  tips  the  tangles,  can  he  know 

The  depth  of  water  that  there's  down  below  ? 

I  don't  complain.     I'm  sure  she  loved  me ;  yes — 

The  greater  love  had  swallowed  up  the  less. 

"  But  still  she  loved  me.     Ah,  sir  !  who  was  I  ? 
A  candle,  when  the  sun  is  in  the  sky. 
Is  hardly  noticed — did  the  night,  no  doubt ; 
But  now  you  even  forget  to  put  it  out. 
He  was  that  sun  that  rose  in  heav'n  above, 
And  burst  upon  her  in  a  blaze  of  love. 
Poor  candle  !  steady,  burning  to  the  snuff — 
I  know  our  love  is  only  common  stuff. 
It's  faithful  as  the  mothers  were  that  bore  us ; 
It's  just  the  love  our  fathers  loved  before  us. 
There's  nothing  fine  about  it,  nothing  grand. 
Like  fruit  or  flower  that  comes  from  foreign  land  : 
A  clover  blossom  where  the  bumbees  cling, 
And  suck — that's  all ;  you  know  the  sort  of  thing. 
A  blackbird  to  his  mate  pipes  nothing  strange. 


200  MARY  QUAYLE 

A  sweet  old  tune,  that  has  not  any  change. 
So  we,  when  we  have  told  our  love,  are  fain 
To  take  a  kiss,  and  tell  it  all  again. 
But  true  it  is,  the  love  no  power  can  sunder, 
The  strongest  love,  is  love  whose  root  is  wonder. 

"  And  Dyncly  was  a  wonder  over  here. 
Especially  with  women — far  or  near 
You  would  not  see  his  match — so  generous 
And  free,  and  then  so  different  from  us — 
His  talk,  his  clothes,  his  way  with  every  limb — 
Wc  hadn't  any  chance  at  all  with  him. 
Ah,  sir !  compared  with  such  a  common  clod 
As  me,  this  Dynely  looked  a  perfect  god — 
There's  nothing  like  it  since  the  world  began, 
The  beauty  of  a  noble  I'^nglishman. 

"  And  Dynely  was  no  flirt,  no  butterfly, 
That's  always  on  the  wing  :  he  didn't  try 
To  get  the  girls  to  gather  all  around  him — 
But  rather  serious  in  his  ways  I  found  him. 
And  when  she  came  to  know  that  she  was  dear 
To  such  a  man,  poor  Mary  had  no  fear, 


MARY  QUAYLE  201 

But  only  wonder  :  so  that,  when  the  crest 
Of  that  great  wave  of  love  rose  to  her  breast, 
She  floated  off  her  feet,  and  drifted  out 
Into  love's  deep-sea  soundings  :  no  faint  doubt 
Was  in  her  mind ;  through  all  the  depths  she  clung 
To  that  strong  swimmer's  arm ;  and,  as  he  flung 
Around  her  all  the  glory  of  his  youth. 
He  seemed  to  her  the  very  soul  of  truth. 

"  Ah,  sir  !  it  was  a  way  with  perils  fraught. 
If  she  had  thought ;  but  love  is  not  a  thought. 
What  thought  she  had  was  only  that  he'd  take  her 
To  some  bright  land  of  joy,  where  he  would  make  her 
His   queen,   his  .  .  .  God -knows -what  .  .  .   some   fruitful 

land, 
Where  happiness  would  grow  at  his  command. 
Like  grass  in  fields,  and  none  their  joys  should  sever. 
And  all  her  soul  be  satisfied  for  ever. 
I  see  you  understand — the  reason  why 
Is  plain — ah,  who  was  I,  sir  ?  who  was  I  ? 

"  And  yet  .  .   .   there's  something  bothering  my  brain- 
Just  wait  a  bit — I'll  make  my  meaning  plain. 


202  MARY  QUAYLE 

You  see,  I've  not  the  art  you  scholars  learn 

To  find  the  very  word  for  every  turn 

Of  what  you  think,  and  feel  within  your  heart, 

Immediately — ah,  sir !  that  is  an  art ! 

But  this  is  it — you'll  see  it  at  a  glance — 

The  man  that  paints  a  picture  has  a  chance 

To  make  it  what  he  likes — he'll  paint  the  trees, 

He'll  paint  a  baby  on  its  mother's  knees. 

He  paints  the  things  that  give  him  most  delight. 

He  paints  the  things  he  longs  for  in  the  night, 

And  things  that  never  were,  and  never  could  be. 

He  paints  them  up  to  what  he  thinks  they  should  be — 

What's  this  you  call — imagination,  ain't  it  ? 

Why,  every  yearning  of  his  heart,  he'll  paint  it. 

He'll  paint  the  very  life,  and  make  it  start  out 

Straight  in  your  face — the  man  can  paint  his  heart  out. 

He's  safe  enough  ;  and  yet  he  needn't  brag — 

It's  all  between  him  and  a  canvas  rag. 

"  And  so  you  gentlemen  that  write  the  po'ms 
And  stories,  living  in  your  pleasant  homes — 
You're  not  content  with  just  the  things  you  sec 
Around  you,  common  joy  and  misery. 


MARY  OUAYLE  203 

And  life  and  death.     You  set  yourselves  to  listen 
To  all  the  hearts  that  beat ;  all  eyes  that  glisten, 
No  matter  where,  you  watch,  you  watch  the  faces ; 
You  write  as  if  you  lived  in  fearful  places. 
So  that,  at  times,  your  best  friends  wouldn't  swear 
You  are  the  steady  gentlemen  you  are. 

"  All  right !  all  right  again — no  fear  of  you  : 
But  only  tell  me  what  are  we  to  do  ! 
We  also  have  our  dreams — be  sure  of  that : 
We  also  long,  we  hardly  know  for  what. 
God  floods  our  hearts  with  all  His  melting  snow, 
And  there's  no  sluice  to  take  the  overflow. 
And  so  it  often  happens  that  the  mill 
Is  swept  away,  or  broken.     You  have  skill 
Of  books  and  paints  for  what  your  mind  contrives ; 
But  we  can  only  put  it  in  our  lives. 
There's  many  a  poor  man's  daughter  born  with  wings 
Inside,  that  fret  upon  her  heart  like  stings. 
Till  some  one  comes  at  last,  and  stands,  and  breathes 
Upon  the  wings.     Then  from  their  golden  sheaths 
They  flash  into  the  light :  with  some  of  us 
It's  very  hard  indeed  ;  it's  dangerous. 


J04  MARY  QUAVLE 

"  But  when  poor  Mary  could  not  hide  her  shame, 
And  had  to  speak,  it  was  her  mother  came 
And  told  me  all.     At  first,  it  hardened  me — 
But,  sir,  it  was  a  common  misery — 
And  who'd  be  more  heart-broken  than  the  mother  ? 
And  so  we  tried  to  comfort  one  another. 
The  father  was  a  fine  old  Methodist — 
They  said,  when  he  was  told,  he  clenched  his  fist. 
And  trembled  like  a  leaf,  and  bowed  his  head  : 
But.  when  he  raised  it  up  again,  they  said 
It  was  a  sad,  but  still  a  lovely  sight — 
The  old  man's  face  was  full  of  heavenly  light 

"  Yes,  real  pious  Methodists  they  were  ; 
And  that's  what  made  it  harder  still  to  bear — 
Being  so  much  looked  up  to  in  the  place — 
It  was  a  very  terrible  disgrace. 
But,  Methodists  or  not,  we  know  who  sends 
The  troubles  ;  and,  except  amongst  our  friends, 
That  know  us  best,  we  have  not  much  to  say — 
We  suffer,  and  are  silent — that's  our  way. 
The  women,  too,  with  us,  are  very  meek — 
Poor  souls  !  it  isn't  for  revenge  they  seek. 


MARY  QUAYLE  205 

Or  law,  or  money.     Love  is  what  they  sought ; 
And,  if  that's  gone,  then  all  the  world  is  nought. 
Revenge?     That's  not  the  port  for  \vhich  they  sailed — 
For  love  they  ventured,  and  for  love  they  failed  : 
And  so  they'd  like  to  die,  if  we  would  let  them  ; 
And  all  they  ask  is  just  that  we'd  forget  them. 

"  But,  when  her  time  was  come,  the  mother  sent 
For  me,  and  so  I  forced  myself,  and  went ; 
And  stayed  a  while  outside,  and  listened  there, 
And  heard  the  preacher  putting  up  a  prayer. 
And  heard  a  long  low  moaning  in  the  garret — 
You  know  what  that  was,  sir — I  could  not  bear  it. 
And  when  I  saw  a  woman  coming  out 
Upon  the  landing — well,  I  turned  about, 
And  started  home.     But,  somewhere  near  the  mill, 
I  heard  a  step  behind  me — it  was  Phil, 
Her  oldest  brother — she  had  three — 
Fine  fellows  as  could  be,  .  .  . 
And  she  .  .  . 

Was  their  joy  and  their  pride  .  .  . 
Any  one  of  them  would  have  died 
In  a  minute  for  her.  .  .  .  They  loved  to  see  her 


!o6  MARY  QUAYLE 

So  good,  and  so  sweet ; 

And  so  she  was,  my  darling,  darling  dear ! 

She  was  !  she  was  !  before  this  awful  wreck — 

And  Philip  took  me  round  the  neck, 

And  kissed  me  on  the  street, 

And  off  without  a  word  ... 

Mary  !  Mary  ! 

I  feel  her  in  my  arms  .   .   . 

Her  mouth  warms  .  .  . 

Yes  then  !  press  then  ! 

Where  then  ?     There  then  ! 

Mary !  Mary  !  .  .  . 

The  very  ground  she  trod  . 

My  God  ! " 

[Oh  liuw  the  lightning  flashed  ! 

Oh  how  the  thunder  crashed  !] 

Richard  fell  back,  and  would  have  struck  his  head 

Against  the  rock  ;  but  I  my  arms  outspread, 

And  caught  him  as  he  fell,      lie  could  not  speak, 

Scarce   breathe.      I    raised   him   up,  and  stroked   his 

check, 
And  cherished  him,  till,  from  the  viewless  bourn 
Of  death,  the  anguished  spirit  made  return. 


MARY  QUAYLE  207 

Then  Richard  spoke — 

"  I  know  that  you  must  wonder 
How  Mary's  brothers  could  be  patient  under 
Such  wrong,  and  such  disgrace  :  perhaps  you  thought 
They'd  kill  the  man ;  perhaps  you  think  they  ought. 
Well — that  is  not  our  way.     Moreover,  sir. 
The  lads  were  thinking  not  of  him,  but  her. 
They  hadn't  backed  him,  and  they  hadn't  crossed  him ; 
They  hadn't  loved  him,  and  they  hadn't  lost  him. 
And  now  they  could  not  hate  him.     He  was  just 
A  reef  that  they  had  split  upon  ;  a  gust 
Of  strong  and  terrible  wind,  that  had  capsized 
The  ship  in  which  they'd  stored  what  most  they  prized — 
Or  as  the  lightning  there,  that  stoops,  and  kills, 
And  passes — vanishing  behind  the  hills — 
Who's  angry  with  the  lightning  ? 

Even  so 
They  never  talked  of  Dynely  as  a  foe. 
Nor  talked  of  him  at  all ;  but  gathered  round 
Their  sister  in  her  sorrow — every  sound 
And  every  sight  they  thought  would  aggravate 
Her  trouble  they  would  screen  her  from,  and  wait 
And  watch  like  three  big  dogs,  and  keep  a  ring 


2o8  MARY  QUAYLE 

Of  love  and  peace  about  her.     Everything 

They  could  they  did  :  and  when  they  saw  her  tearful — 

Poor  chaps  !  they'd  try  to  be  a  little  cheerful : 

And,  when  they  could  do  nothing  else,  they'd  sit 

With  her,  and  leave  off  talking  for  a  bit, 

And  be  a  comfort  to  her — three  of  a  size, 

All  pitying  her  with  those  big  loving  eyes. 

*'  She  was  the  loveliest  thing  they'd  ever  known  : 
She  was  the  youngest  of  them  ;  she  had  grown 
Among  them  like  a  flower  among  the  corn — 
So,  from  the  very  minute  she  was  born, 
They  loved  their  little  sister.      And  to  them 
The  flower  that  drooped,  and  faded  on  the  stem. 
Was  still  their  flower :  the  lightning-flash  had  scathed  it. 
And  scorched  the  tender  leaves  ;  and  so  they  bathed  it 
With  dews  of  love,  and  every  sweet  endeavour — 
She  was  as  beautiful  to  them  as  ever. 
And  twice  more  precious  fur  her  sorrow's  need — 
So  God  is  gentle  to  the  bruised  reed. 
Besides,  they  hoped  for  sunshine  by  and  by, 
If  only  they  could  coax  her  not  to  die. 
No  score  but  Time  will  wipe  it  with  his  sponge — 


MARY  QUAYLE  209 

Too   much   to   lose,    they   thought :     so    divers    think,    and 
plunge. 

"  I  wandered  all  that  night  upon  the  shore  ; 
But,  when  the  day  broke,  I  was  at  the  door 
Again ;  and  Philip  told  me  that  her  child 
Was  born,  and  Mary  seemed  quite  reconciled 
To  nurse  it,  and  they  both  would  live.     I  knew 
That  very  minute  what  I  had  to  do.     . 
The  packet  sailed  for  Liverpool  that  day. 
And  I  sailed  with  her.     Yes,  sir,  as  you  say, 
To  speak  to  Mr.  Dynely,  if  I  could. 
And  bring  him  home  to  Mary — God  was  good 
That  had  preserved  her,  and  I  thought  he  might 
Do  his  part  now,  and  come  and  make  all  right. 

"  I  was  most  wretched,  sir,  aboard  that  craft — 
Some  chaps  are  very  thoughtless ; — and  they  chaffed 
And  bothered  me.     They're  very  different  now 
From  fishermen  like  us  :  I  don't  know  how. 
But  quite  another  sort — they  hardly  seem 
Like  sailors — maybe  something  in  the  steam. 
But  Corlett,  that  was  skipper  of  the  boat 

p 


2IO  MARY  QUAYLE 

(A  better  seaman  never  was  afloat), 

Reproved  them  very  sharp,  and  made  them  cease 

Their  stuff,  and  then  I  got  a  little  peace. 

••  I  landed  at  the  Stage,  and  looked  about, 
And  hailed  a  Runcorn  flat,  just  clearing  out. 
And  jumped  aboard  :  the  skipper  gave  a  curse  ; 
His  wife  looked  up,  and  asked  if  I  could  nurse, 
And  handed  me  the  baby ;  so  I  sat. 
And  nursed  a  baby  on  a  Runcorn  flat — 
And  glad  enough — God  knows  that  I  had  need 
Of  something  innocent ;  I  had  indeed — 
Poor  little  things  !     But  when  the  night  came  on. 
And  all  the  stars,  the  woman  nursed  her  son, 
And  talked  to  me  of  heaven,  and  of  another 
That  she  had  lost,  a  little  baby  brother — 
And  how  the  world  was  full  of  sin  and  care — 
But  God  was  all,  and  God  was  rt'cryioJure — 
I  told  her  nothing  ;  but  of  course  she  knew 
Far  more  than  half  my  .  .  .  AVcll,  you  know,  they  do- 
A  woman  has  an  art  you'll  never  shirk, 
She  always  knows  another  woman's  work. 

"  At  Runcorn,  when  I  asked  for  Dynely  Hall, 


MARY  QUAYLE  211 

The  only  bearings  I  could  get  at  all 

Were  just  south-east ;  and  so  I  bore  away  ; 

And,  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day, 

I  saw  the  place  before  me.     Aren't  they  grand  ?— 

Those  big  old  houses  rooted  deep  in  land ; 

And  woods  and  park  that  stretch  for  miles  and  miles. 

And  meadows  like  long  lakes  of  grass,  and  stiles, 

And  paths — and  all  so  open  and  so  free — 

Ah,  what's  our  Milntown,  and  our  Nunnery, 

Or  Bishop's  Court  ?     Just  think — the  room  alone- — 

No  cropping  every  acre  to  the  bone. 

Like  us.     There's  money  at  the  back — that's  it ! 

Yes,  money  :  but  there's  more  ;  there's  noble  wit. 

There's  ancient  memories,  use  of  generous  ways, 

And  wholesome  customs  of  the  bygone  days. 

"  So  when  I  saw  the  glory  and  the  strength 
Of  such  a  place,  and  when  I  saw  the  length 
Of  roofs,  and  spires,  and  gable-ends,  and  towers, 
And  high  stone-windows  cut  in  fruits  and  flowers — 
And  grass  like  thick-napped  velvet  on  the  lawn, 
And  all  so  quiet  sleeping  in  the  dawn — 
I  thought  two  thoughts — What  right  had  I  to  bring 


2  12  MARY  QUAYLE 

My  trouble  therel  and  then — What  earthly  thing 
Could  make  it  possible  for  Mary  Quayle 
To  be  the  mistress  there? — could  love  prevail? 
Could  honesty  ?  .  .  .  And  then  I  stood  uncertain, 
Upon  the  stretch,  as  one  who  holds  the  curtain 
Of  some  sound  sleeper,  knowing  that  he  never 
Will  sleep  like  that  again.     And  then  a  shiver 
Came  over  me — a  long  dim  driving  scud 
Of  horror,  and  my  eyes  were  burning  blood, 
And  the  world  rose  around  me,  and  I  fell 
Forward  .  .  .  down  to  the  very  bottom  of  hell. 

"Then  from  the  pit  I  cried  a  bitter  cry — 
The  pit  indeed — I  swore  to  God  on  high 
This  thing  was  wrong,  and  always  must  be  wrong — 
I  swore  it  in  the  darkness  :  then  .  .   .  ding-dong  .   . 
The  blood-bells  buliblcd  in  my  ears  like  rain, 
And  earth  and  sky  came  back  to  me  again  ; 
And  I  was  on  my  knees  upon  the  sod, 
And  praying  ;  and  I  said — 

'  O  God,  my  God  ! 
'J'hou  art  the  Father  of  all  souls  :  from  Thee 
They  come,  as  ccjually  (ordained  to  be 


MARY  QUAYLE  213 

The  creatures  of  Thy  hand,  Thy  sovereign  might, 

And  they  are  equal.  Father,  in  Thy  sight. 

O  God  !  my  God  !  in  that  sweet  field  of  morn, 

Where  all  the  souls  were  waiting  to  be  born. 

Were  they  not  equal  ?  and,  if  not  so  now. 

Who  makes  these  differences  ?     God,  not  Thou  ! 

Not  Thou  !  not  Thou,  my  God  !     And  love  is  Thine  ; 

Thou  pourest  it  into  our  hearts  like  wine 

In  golden  cups ;  and  Love  is  just  the  same 

x^s  Thou  art,  God  :  he  knows  no  rank,  or  name, 

Or  wealth,  or  place.     He  takes  our  hearts  and  binds 

them 
With  links  of  fire — Oh,  say  not  that  he  blinds  them 
With  vain  deceits  !  not  that,  O  Heavenly  Father  ! 
Not  that,  not  that !  if  truth  is  truth  :  say  rather — 
Wise  Love  comes  opening  our  eyes  to  see 
The  stamp  of  natural  equality. 

0  Lord,  I  pray  Thee,  let  these  two  be  one. 
And  as  for  me,  O  Lord,  Thy  will  be  done  ! 

1  will  not  say  a  word,  a  single  word — ■ 

Thy  will  be  done  !  Thy  will  be  done,  O  Lord  ! 
I  loved  her — yes — perhaps  I  loved  her  most — 
It  might  have  been — O  Lord,  O  Lord,  Thou  know'st. 


2  14  iMARV   UUAYLE 

And  now  be  with  me  in  tliis  dreadful  hour ; 

Subdue  the  pride  of  man,  and  give  me  power 

To  sacrifice  myself  right  out  and  through — 

This  much  I  ask,  O  Lord,  this  much  I  do. 

O  Lord,  I  claim  to  have  no  part  or  lot 

In  her ;  I  only  ask  to  be  forgot. 

Make  these  two  happy  in  their  love,  and  then — 

I'll  manage — grant  it,  God  of  love  !     Amen  ! ' 

[No  more  the  lightning  flashed, 

No  more  the  thunder  crashed — 

But  from  the  piled  jet 

Gleamed  sheeted  violet, 

Which  lent  such  grace 

To  that  sad  {iicc, 

My  voice  was  all  to  seek  : 

And  when  I  tried  to  speak,  I  could  not  speak. 

Then  Richard  smiled  to  .see  how  absolute 

Th(j  human  tie  that  bound  us — blessed  fruit 

Of  strong  coequal  manhood.     Then  he  spoke — ] 

"  Day  strengthened  [Richard  said] ;  I  saw  the  smoke 
Rise  from  the  roofs :  the  birds  began  their  hymn.s, 
Anfl  all  the  valley  seemed  to  stretch  its  limbs, 


MARY  OUAYLE  215 

And  wake.     It  was  a  lovely  spot ;  and  so 

I  felt  a  great  deal  better,— cheerful— no— 

But  better ;  thinking  God  had  heard  my  prayer, 

And  everything  so  pleasant  and  so  fair. 

And  then,  for  coolness  like,  and  also  knowing 

Where  he  would  be,  if  there  was  fishing  going, 

I  went  and  sat  me  down  upon  the  brink 

Of  a  fine  stream,  that  had  a  merry  blink, 

And  looked,  so  clear  and  quick  the  water  ran. 

Like  our  own  rivers  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 

The  sound  was  sweet,  the  wind  came  off  the  moor, 

I  might  have  been  in  Sulby,  or  Ballure. 

"Then  sleep  came  on  me,  and  I  dreamt  a  dream 
Of  Mary  skipping  to  me  'cross  the  stream 
Upon  some  stepping-stones ;  and  I  was  standing 
With  arms  stretched  out  to  catch  her  at  the  landing  : 
And  her  sweet  face  was  just  a  perfect  sun 
Of  love  and  mischief     Suddenly — '  Run,  run  ! ' 
She  cried,  '  the  child  ! '     I  looked,  and  all  was  dark, 
Only  I  saw  a  little  baby  stark 
Naked  as  it  was  born,  and  over  it 
I  saw  a  ball  of  rosy  flame  that  lit 


2i6  MARY  QUAYLE 

Its  little  body,  as  it  floated  there — 

I  felt  the  night-wind  whistling  through  my  hair — 

I  saw  poor  Mary  leap — I  sprang  to  hold  her — 

I  woke — and  .  .  .   Dynely's  hand  was  on  my  shoulder. 

"  '  Why,  Richard,  Richard  !  what  on  earth  is  this  ? 
And  what  is  up  ?  and  what  has  gone  amiss  ? 
And  how  in  Heaven's  name  have  you  come  here, 
My  lusty,  trusty,  Ancient  Marineer ! 
Ha  !  Richard,  you've  been  spreeing — that's  your  line  ! 
You've  been  among  the  landsharks,  Richard  mine. 
You  steady  chaps  are  far  the  worst,  they  say. 
When  once  you  cut  the  cable.'     Just  his  way — 
Landsharks,  and  Ancient  Marincirs,  and  that ; 
And  gript  my  arm,  and  held  my  hand,  and  sat 
Beside  me. 

liut  I  turned  away  my  head, 
And  .  .  .  '  Sir,  the  child  is  born,  the  child,'  I  said. 
He  dropt  me,  gript  me,  dropt  and  gript  again — 
dript  like  a  vice;  and  .  .   .   '  Ric  hard  !   Richard  Craine,' 
He  said — '  Look  here  !   look  straight !  look  straight ! '  and 

turned  me 
Around  to  look  at  him  full  front,  and  burned  me 


MARY  OUAYLE  217 

With  eyes  like  coals  of  fire—'  Look  straight ! '  says  he ; 
'  There's  something  in  your  face  I  want  to  see — 
You  loved  her,  Craine  ! '    I  gave  him  look  for  look— 
Ah  sir,  the  murdering  devil  has  a  nook 
In  every  heart — another  move,  a  breath — 
I  might  have  had  him  in  the  grips  of  death- 
Die  him,  die  me,  or  die  the  two  of  us— 
What  matters  it  ?      The  thing  is  thus  and  thus— 
It's  come  to  that— you  don't  know  how  or  why— 
You  don't  know  anything oh  d you  !  die  ! 

"  Die yes— but  Mary Mary  was  the  thing  ; 

And  why  was  I  at  Dynely  but  to  bring 

That  man  to  do  the  duty  of  a  lover. 

And  come  and  make  an  honest  woman  of  her  ? 

And  who  was  I  to  put  between  them  ?    No  ! 

Just  let  me  see  her  happy,  and  I'd  go, 

And  never  more  be  heard  of,  never  more — 

You  cati  do  that.     '  You  loved  her,  Craine.'     I  swore 

I  never  did  ...  I  had  to  do  it  ...  yes  ..  . 

I  had— God  knows  the  lie ;  but,  nevertheless, 

There  was  no  other  way  in  heaven  above 

Or  earth  beneath — it  was  the  lie  of  love. 


:iS  MARY  QUAYLE 

"  I  said  that  we  were  friends — that  Mary's  father 
And  mine  had  been  old  shipmates — that  they  rather 
Had  trust  in  me,  and  thought  that  I  could  tell 
Their  grief  to  him,  through  knowing  him  so  well — 
So  I  had  come  ;  and  Mary  ivas  as  pure 
As  the  unmeltcd  snoic,  I  said  :  /le  kneiv  /icr, 
I  said — s/ie  7C'as  a  modest  icoman  still. 
And  all  her  people  were  respectable. 
I  said  a  lot  of  things  :  but  then  a  cloud 
Came  on  his  handsome  face,  and  he  looked  proud 
And  cold  at  me  :  again  the  devil  hissed 
Hot  murder  in  my  heart.     I  held  his  wrist — 
It  felt  like  paper,  cracking  in  my  span — 

"  And — '  Mr.  Dynely,  you're  a  gentleman,' 
I  said,  'and  so  our  girls  are  only  toys 
For  you  to  play  with,  slaves  of  lustful  joys 
To  you,  and  such  as  you,  that  you  may  break  them 
For  fun  and  fancy — eh  ?  that  you  may  make  them 
A  desolation,  and  a  shame  to  utter, 
.\n(l  fling  them  on  the  cinders  or  the  gutter. 
As  children  fling  their  dolls :  and  we  must  stand 
Patient — wc,  fathers,  brothers — move  no  hand 


MARY  OUAYLE  219 

To  right  the  wrong.     It  is  a  wrong  !  what  rule  ? 

What  law  is  this  ?  who  made  it  ?  God  ?     That's  cool ! 

What  God  ?  whose  God  ?  the  God  of  heaven  and  earth  ? 

The  God  that  brings  all  creatures  to  the  birth  ? 

The  God  Eve  prayed  to  when  she  suckled  Cain, 

And  Adam  saw  the  milk  ?     Your  god  is  plain, 

The  devil-god,  that  made  him  kill  his  brother. 

The  god  that  sunders  us  from  one  another 

In  jealousy  and  hate,  friend  torn  from  friend — 

In  murder  it  began,  in  murder  it  will  end.' 

"  My  grip  grew  tighter — '  God,  and  law  ! "  I  cried  ; 
'  Your  god  is  Moloch,  and  your  law  is  pride — 
Hell's  pride ;  man's  law — man  therefore  can  reverse  it — 
Stand  up  with  me,  I  say,  and  curse  it !  curse  it ! 
Curse  it  !•  it  is  no  part  of  God's  great  plan — 
A  gentleman  !  stand  up,  and  be  a  man  ! ' 

[While  Richard  paused,  as  if  the  passionate  speech 
Had  overmastered  utterance — lo  !  a  breach 
Of  purest  sky,  seaward,  diagonal 
From  north  to  south ;  on  either  side,  a  wall 
Black,  feather-edged  with  sheen  of  silvery  bars, 


2  20  MARY  QUAVLE 

And  in  the  interspace  were  many  stars. 

I  saw  it,  but  was  silent.     Richard  broke 

A  way  for  prisoned  words,  and  thus  he  spoke — ] 

"  If  I  had  not  been  Wind  with  grief  and  passion, 
I  could  not  but  have  noticed  how  the  fashion 
Of  Dynely's  face  was  changing  all  the  while — 
But  now  I  saw  it — saw  the  sweet  bright  smile 
Spread  out  through  tears ;  and — '  Richard  Craine,'  he  said, 
'  I  come  on  Friday.'     Then  I  fell  stone  dead — 
You  see,  the  tramping,  and  the  want  of  meat, 
And  all — I  just  fell  senseless  at  his  feet. 

"  He  raised  me  though,  and  made  me  take  a  sup 
Of  brandy  from  a  little  silver  cup 
He  had  with  him,  and  gave  me  food  he'd  brought 
For  fishing  store  :  and  then,  like  losing  thought 
Of  all  our  cares,  as,  when  a  storm  has  passed. 
Two  vessels,  hull  to  hull,  and  mast  to  mast. 
Lie  on  the  heaving  calm — just  so  we  lay. 
And  talked  chance  talk — of  herrings  in  the  bay, 
And  six-foot  congers — did  I  catch  ihevi  often  1 
There's  men  would  talk  of  congers  in  their  coftin— 


MARY  QUAYLE  221 

Chance  talk,  chance  talk— that's  it,  and  very  much 
Like  dropping  stones  in  water  .  .  .  touch-touch-touch — 
That's  all— and  so  I  said  I  thought  I'd  hook  it ; 
And  Dynely  gave  me  money,  and  I  took  it — 
I  did — you  see,  I  didn't  want  to  lose 
A  minute  getting  home,  and  to  refuse 
Seemed  foolish  pride ;  and,  on  the  other  hand. 
To  take but,  sir,  I  see  you  understand. 

"  He  showed  me  where  the  railway  ran  aback 
The  hills.     I  said  good-bye,  and  didn't  slack 
Until  I  reached  the  level — then  I  stopped. 
And  saw  him  stretched  upon  his  face  arm-propped, 
Arm-buried  from  the  world  of  living  men— 
Ah  sir,  I  could  have  ripped  my  heart  out  then, 
And  flung  it  back  to  him — '  He's  good  !  he's  good  ! ' 
I  cried,  and  turned,  and  sprang  into  the  wood. 
Thank  God  that  that  last  moment  I  had  grace 
And  power  to  see  that  Dynely  was  not  base, 
To  feel  that  he  was  good,  sound  at  the  core — 
Because  .  .  .  because  ...  I  never  saw  him  more ! 

"  How  sweet  the  night  is  getting  !     [Then  said  I — 


222  MARY   QUAYLE 

'It  is  a  lovely  night ' — whereat  a  sigh 

Came  trembling  to  our  feet,  then  paused,  as  failing 

Against  the  rock,  then  fluttered  into  wailing, 

And  wheeled  adown  the  farthest  bourn  of  west — 

'The  thunder-wind  is  dying  in  its  nest,' 

Said  Richard :  but  I  knew  not  what  to  think, 

So  human  was  the  sorrow,  to  the  brink 

Of  syllabled  utterance  urging  awful  cares — 

I  followed  it  with  wishes  and  with  prayers. 

Then  Richard  said — ] 

"The  boat  was  late,  the  evening  air  was  cool, 
The  sun's  last  light  was  creeping  up  liarrule  ; 
The  place  looked  very  happy,  very  sweet ; — 
And  I  was  happy.     Up  Kirk  Maughold  Street 
I  met  the  brothers.     Heavy  with  distress, 
They  looked  at  me :  but  all  I  said  was  *  Ves, 
He's  coming;'  for  they  knew  where  I  had  gone — 
I  saw  they  did — they  nodded,  and  passed  on, 
Suspicious,  whisi)ering,  or  seemed  to  he, 
And  all  the  people  stood  and  stared  at  me. 

"  IJut  I  went  up  to  Mary's.     Mrs.  Quayle 


MARY  QUAYLE  223 


Was  standing  at  the  door  :  I  told  my  tale — 

She  couldn't  speak,  she  hardly  raised  her  head, 

But  fell  against  the  door — '  Come  in,'  she  said. 

Old  Quayle  had  got  the  preacher,  Mr.  King, 

A  Bible  gript  between  them  arguing  ; 

And,  just  as  I  was  standing  at  the  sill, 

The  preacher  snatched  the  Bible  from  him,  till 

He'd  find  a  text  to  pin  him.     Low,  quite  low, 

Says  Mrs.  Quayle,  '  He's  seen  him — him,  you  know.' 

The  Bible  straddled  somewhere  in  their  laps. 

Old  Quayle  heaved  back  his  head,  and  sighed  ;  perhaps 

It  was  the  waking  up  of  all  the  grief 

Had  slept  awhile,  perhaps  it  was  relief 

From  preachers'  talk,  because  there  are,  no  doubt, 

Some  preachers  that  you'd  rather  do  without. 

When  you're  in  trouble ;  and  old  Quayle  was  all 

For  peace  and  holy  joy,  like  John,  like  Paul, 

For  quietness,  and  prayer,  and  meditation — 

Though  Paul I  think but  smelling  provocation 

Was  King's  delight ;  but  still  I've  understood 
He  was  a  man  that  did  a  deal  of  good. 

"  And  now  I  told  them  what  I'd  seen  and  heard, 


2  24  MARY  QUAYLE 

How  I  had  met  with  Dynely — every  word 
He'd  said  to  me ;  but  not,  of  course,  what  I 
Had  said ;  and  Mrs.  Quayle  began  to  cry. 
But  all  the  time  that  I  was  speaking  there, 
I  saw  the  preacher  working  in  his  chair. 
And  now  a  sniff,  and  now  a  snuff — '  I  know,' 
He  seemed  to  say,  '  what  you're  a-coming  to.' 
■  And  when  I  told  how  Dynely  liad  agreed 
To  come  next  boat — '  Indeed,'  he  said,  '  indeed  !  '- 
And  sniffed.     But  now  an  argument  began 
Between  himself  and  Mrs.  Quayle — What  plan. 
He  said,  should  be  adopted  in  this  case — 
And — hoto  astonishing  it  was  to  trace 
The  hand  of  Pro7>idence  ;  ho7C<  human  ill 
I  Fas  ai'erruled  for  good  ; — unsearchable, 
The  preacher  said,  //  was,  past  finding;  out, 
Like  all  Gats  ways.     See  how  He'd  brought  about 
A  full  conviction  I  see  the  sinner's  sin 
A  cause  of  grace  !  but  not  to  walk  therein — 
He  said — iVo,  no  /  And  Mary's  change  7c>as  deep, 
He  said,  and  highly  promising — a  sheep, 
He  doubted  not,  brought  home  upon  the  shoulder 
Of  the  Good  Shepherd.     Now  then,  if  they  told  her 


MARY  QUAYLE  225 

About  this  Bynely,  where  was  all  his  wrestling  ? 
This  work  would  be  disturbed,  this  lamb,  a-nestling 
Upon  the  Saviour's  bosom,  would  give  ear 
To  wolves  without  the  fold ;  and  so,  one  dear 
To  him  by  precious  ties  would  fall  away  ; 
And  God  would  question  at  the  Judgment  Day. 

"Poor  Mrs.  Quayle  had  not  the  slightest  chance 
With  King — indeed,  she  hardly  made  advance 
Beyond  some  simple  words,  like — '  Surely  !  surely  ! 
They're  better  married.' — '  That's  a  point  maturely 
To  be  considered,  ma'am ;  and  on  your  knees. 
Just  think  of  all  the  pomps  and  vanities, 
And  sinful  lusts.     You  know  how  Mary  stands 
At  present — Could  she  be  in  better  hands  ? 
A  state's  a  state,  regard  it  as  you  will — 
Disturb  that  state,  and  who's  responsible } ' 

"  '  Ah  but,'  she  said,  '  if  Mr.  Dynely  come, 
And  want  to  marry  her  ? '     He  looks  as  glum 
As  thunder — 'When  did  Mr.  Dynely  say 
He'd  marry  her  at  all  ? '  and — '  Let  us  pray  ! ' 
He  says,  and  knelt.     But  those  were  words  to  pierce 

Q 


2  26  MARY  QUAYLE 

The  woman  to  the  heart.     She  stood  up  fierce 
And  stiff — she  would  not  kneel :  I  got  beside  her, 
And  held  her  hand  in  mine.     The  old  man  eyed  her 
With  sad  and  wondering  look.     The  preacher  frowned, 
But  prayed — when  .  .  .  suddenly  ...  we  heard  a  sound, 

A  sweet  low  tune 'twas  in  the  room  above — 

O  sir,  my  heart  filled  over — Love  !  love  !  love  ! 

0  love !  O  death  !  .  .  . 

But,  sir,  the  preacher  stayed, 
He  rose;  he  listened — 'Yes,  it's  sweet,'  he  said  ; 
'  It's  sweet ;  she  often  sings  like  that,  poor  thing  ! 

And  hardly  knows '    I  felt  the  mother  spring, 

Although  she  didn't  move — '  Oh,  is  she  crying  ? ' 

1  said — '  Oh,  is  she,  Mrs.  Quayle  ?  or  dying  ? 

Oh,  dying  !  dying  !  Mrs.  Quayle  ! ' — '  She  may  be,' 
The  woman  said  ;  '  thaVs  singing  to  her  baby, 
At  any  rate,'  she  said.     You  see,  she  knew 
The  sort  of  sound,  as  if  a  baby  drew 
The  song  and  suck  at  once — Ah,  trust  a  mother 
To  tell  that  tune  of  tunes  !     There  is  no  other 
Like  that,  of  all  the  tunes — '  She  hasn't  nursed 
Her  baby  for  a  week  :  we  feared  the  worst,' 
The  mother  said.     '  Jiut  now — oh  why,  oh  why 


MARY  OUAYLE  227 

Are  you  so  cruel  ?     Sir,  she  need  not  die ; 
She  need  not,  Mr.  King  ! ' 

She  stopped  ;  the  song 
Continued — -All  at  once — '  I  think  we're  wrong. 
The  old  man  said  ;  '  this  lies  beyond  our  power,' 
And  all  his  face  was  like  a  lovely  flower — 
'  We'll  go  and  tell  her.'     Then  he  rose,  and  went ; 
And  with  him  went  his  wife.     The  preacher  bent 
His  head,  and  muttered  something — didn't  speak ; 
I  saw  the  tears  were  rolling  down  his  cheek. 
We  left  together — '  In  your  prayers  to-night 
Remember  me,'  he  said;  'good-night !  good-night !' 
They're  hard  on  human  nature,  bound  to  be ; 
But  still  they  can't  get  over  it,  you  see. 

"  I  heard  next  morning,  when  I  gave  a  call 
Up-street,  that  Mary  wasn't  pleased  at  all 
With  what  I'd  done — it  took  her  unawares — 
If  people  just  would  mind  their  oivti  affairs, 
She  said,  it  would  be  better — mind  their  own  ; 
She  only  wanted  to  be  left  alone  I 
She  wanted  nobody  to  come  and  see  her — 
It  was  as  Death  had  whispered  in  her  ear 


228  MARY  QUAYLE 

And  spat  into  her  mouth,  and  sucked  her  breath — 
There  is  a  kind  of  drunkenness  of  death 
She'd  got ;  she'd  bathed  her  feet  in  death  so  long 
That  it  had  lost  the  chill :  and  Death  is  strong, 

But  Hope  is  stronger bully  Hope  !  heart's-ease  ! 

Sweet  Hope,  young  Hope,  that  climbs  upon  the  knees 
Of  Death,  and  hangs  upon  his  neck  !  and  so 
I  knew  that  it  would  be  with  her.     No,  no  ! 
We're  not  so  fond  of  Death. 

That  very  day 
She  nursed  and  nursed  the  little  one,  that  lay 
Upon  her  breast,  a  helpless  snuggling  bit 
Of  innocence.     They  said  her  face  was  lit 
With  pride,  if  any  one  could  call  it  pride — 
I'oor  thing  !  and  when  she  laid  it  at  her  side, 
And  raised  herself,  she  kissed  the  little  foot. 
And  talked  of  flowers,  and  where  they  should  be  put 
To  make  the  room  look  nice ;  and  kissed  her  mother. 

"  Next  day  was  Friday  ;  then  she  couldn't  smother 
Her  longing  any  more ;  she  couldn't  rest 
A  minute  with  them  ;  wanted  to  be  drest ; 
Sang  to  the  baby,  danced  it,  held  it  off 


MARY  QUAYLE  229 

At  arm's-length  from  her,  till  she  made  it  cough 
And  blink ;  and  then  she  nursed  it  for  a  while ; 
And  then  she  lay  quite  peaceful — such  a  smile, 
The  mother  said,  and  such  a  lovely  bloom, 
To  see  her  tidying  about  the  room  ! 
And  she  would  have  the  window  open — yes — 
The  window — begged  her  mother  with  a  kiss 
To  have  the  window  open,  so  that  she 
Might  hear  the  tug  of  paddles  out  at  sea. 

"The  steamer  came — I  waited  till  the  last — 
No  Dynely — no  !      I  made  the  painter  fast, 
And  jumped  aboard  the  boat  :  I  went  below. 
To  see  if  he  was  there — but^ — Dynely  ? — no  ! 
He  hadn't  come.     I  went  ashore  again  ; 
I  saw  the  brothers  standing  at  the  lane ; 
And,  when  they  saw  me  by  myself,  they  turned. 
And  walked  away,  they  did.     My  head,  sir,  burned 
With  misery — O  God  of  Israel ! 
And  then  .   .  .  and  then  ...  I  had  to  go  and  tell. 
I  made  it  look  as  likely  as  I  could ; 
He  hadn't  come  ;  hut  then  of  course  he  would — 
Next  boat,  no  doubt.     And  so  they  thought  it  better 


:30  MARY  QUAYLE 

That  Mary  should  he  told — No  dotibt,  a  letter 
Had  come  by  post — they'd  have  it  in  the  morning  : 
And  so,  without  the  smallest  bit  of  warning, 
Tliey  told  her — '  Shut  the  window  no^i\  she  said  ; 
And  then  her  mother  wrapt  her  in  the  bed, 
And  felt  her  all  a  tremble. 

Morning  came — 
No  letter,  but  the  paper,  and  a  name 
That  made  me  start — '  Births,  Marriages,'  you  know, 
'Deaths  .   .  .  Herbert  Dynely,  Dynely  Hall' — just  so- 
And,  in  anolhcr  place,  'Sad  accident.' 
It  seems,  soon  after  I  had  left,  he  went 
Kar  up  the  river  to  a  place  where  rocks 
Run  out,  and  make  a  gully  :  two  big  blocks 
I>ean  from  each  side,  as  if  inclined  to  meet, 
One  higher  than  the  other — fifteen  feet 
Of  slant  apart.     The  downward  jump  was  hard, 
'i'hc  up  was  worse ;  and  yet  the  man  who  dared 
The  one  must  dare  the  other :  from  the  ledge 
On  which  he  stood  the  cliff  was  like  a  hedge 
Behind  him,  six  good  fathoms,  smooth  as  glass  : 
lielow  him,  from  the  throttle  of  the  pass, 
Half  choked  with  churning  stones,  the  water  slid 


MARY  QUAYLE  231 

Into  a  deep  black  pool.     The  jump  was  called  the 
Strid. 

"  They  found  him  in  the  pool,  and  people  thought 
He  must  have  had  a  salmon  on,  and  brought 
His  fish  into  the  narrows.     Then,  you  see, 
He  couldn't  play  him  there ;  so  jumps  to  free 
His  running  tackle ;  doesn't  do  to  jerk  him— 
Jump  back  again's  the  only  way  to  work  him — 
Jumps,  misses,  strikes  the  crags,  back,  front,  good  God ! 
Stunned,  bleeding,  helpless,  still  he  holds  the  rod, 
And  held  it  when  they  found  him— dead  enough- 
Just  where  the  water  shoaled  :  the  gear  was  tough  \ 
The  salmon  was  below  him,  fast  as  glue — 
The  rascal — sulking,  wondering  what  to  do. 

"  So  that's  how  Dynely  died.     This  news  was  broke 
To  Mary  very  gently.     No  one  spoke 
But  what  they  had  to  speak,  and  all  combined 
To  be  as  helpful,  and  as  good  and  kind 
As  ever  they  could  be.     But  that  strong  love 
Of  Death  came  back  upon  her  now,  and  strove 
Against  our  kindness.     Most  of  us,  indeed, 


232  MARY  QUAYLE 

Knew  what  must  be  the  end  :  such  strains  exceed 
The  strength  of  human  hearts.     Before  she  died, 
She  sent  for  me.     I  stood  at  her  bedside  .   .  . 
Bedside  .  .  .   bedside  .   .      ()  sir,  the  other  hopes  ! 
The  other  thoughts  !  .   .  .  O  sir,  man  only  gropes. 
At  best,  through  darkness :  here,  at  last,  was  light — 
But  not  of  this  world. 

'Twas  a  lovely  sight. 
But  terrible  .  .  .  poor  darling  little  bed — 
Poor  lamb  I  poor  dear  !     But  how  I  stooped  my  head 
Against  her  lips  to  hear  her  whispering. 
And  what  she  said,  that  was  not  anything 
But  sweet  low  sighs — and  what  I  could  not  say. 
No  matter  how  I  tried,  and  came  away, 
And  left  her,  when  they  told  me.  .  .  .    Wait  a  bit  .  .  . 
That  is  .  .  .  that  must  be.  ...   O  sir,  this  is  it  .   .  . 
Young  Dynely  lies  in  Dynely  church  ;  and  she 
Lies  there  !  " 

He  pointed  where  above  the  sea 
Saint  .Maughold's  Church  lay  girt  with  cross  and  rune 
And  grave.  .   .  .  Just  then  forth  sailed  the  stately  moon 
Full-orbed  ;  and,  from  a  vista  of  retreat 
Cloud-caverned,  lo  !  a  face  divinely  sweet 


MARY  QUAYLE  233 

Looked  forth,  and,  every  fold  distinct  with  light, 

Soft  garments  floated  on  the  field  of  night. 

"  Behold  !  "    I  cried,  "  O  Richard  mine,  behold 

The  robe  of  silver,  and  the  crown  of  gold  ! 

See,  see  !  she  smiles  !  "     Straightway  the  vision  passed  : 

But  Richard  spoke  not,  only  held  me  fast 

By  hand  and  arm — We  rose,  and  down  the  slope 

Walked  silently O  Love  !  O  Death  !  O  Hope  ! 


BELLA   GORRY 

By  the  Pazon 

Westward  to  Jurby,  eastward  if  you  look, 

The  coast  runs  level  to  the  Point  of  Ayre, 

A  waste  of  sand,  sea-holly,  and  wild  thyme — 

Wild  thyme  and  bent.     The  Mull  of  Galloway 

Is  opposite.     Adown  the  farthest  west, 

Nut  visible  now,  lie  stretched  the  hills  of  Morne. 

A  cutta)^L\  did  you  say  ?     \'cs,  once  it  was  j 
A  ruin  now — the  naked  gables  stand 
Roofless — the  walls  are  clay,  save  where  round  stones. 
Picked  from  the  beach,  supi)ly  the  mason's  art 
With  base  Cyclopean.     Sec  the  narrow  hole 
That  served  for  window !  see  the  poor  dead  hearth. 
This  was  the  home  of  one  whom,  for  the  wealth 


BELLA  GORRY  235 

And  strength  of  her  great  love,  I  call  not  poor — 
Else,  poor  indeed.     The  story  of  her  life 
You'd  like  to  know  ?     So  far  as  known  to  me, 
You  shall — a  simple  story  'tis  in  sooth, 
And  somewhat  sad.     Yet  in  the  simple  fact 
God  often  speaks  :  and,  as  for  sadness,  sir, 
I  think  such  sadness  is  a  thing  most  sweet. 

The  marriage  tie,  the  household  ordinance. 
The  regulated  decencies,  the  home. 
Are  God's  appointment — so  to  train  a  race 
Healthy  and  strong ;  yet  can  He  nurture  strength 
And  beauty  in  mere  wildings — grace  and  joy, 
Nay,  goodness,  and  the  firmest  bond  of  love — 
Firmer,  it  may  be,  for  the  sense  in  both 
Of  helplessness,  of  grave  neglect,  and  scorn — 
Firmer,  as  fastened  in  the  absolute  root 
Of  sheer  maternity,  where  fatherhood 
Is  but  the  remnant  of  a  weary  dream. 
So,  while  our  gardens  bloom,  a  humble  flower. 
Flung  o'er  the  wall,  may  take  the  dews  of  God, 
And  breathe  His  air,  and,  in  the  wilderness. 
Unfold  the  lovely  splendour  of  a  rose. 


236  BELLA  GORRY 

When  Bella  Gorry  came  to  dwell  amongst  us, 
She  was  not  young.     Full  thirty  years,  at  least, 
She'd  seen  :  she  was  a  stranger  to  us  here, 
A  south-side  woman.     We  were  harvesting 
When  first  she  came,  and  joined  the  shearers  :  none 
Knew  where  she  lived,  or  how ;  until,  one  night. 
Passing  among  the  bents,  I  heard  a  cry 
As  of  a  child,  and  heard  the  murmured  song 
Wherewith  the  mother  sought  to  quiet  it — 
And  this  was  Bella  Gorry.     Round  her  rose 
The  swelling  sand-heaps  :  it  was  in  September, 
A  starlit  night.     A  fence  of  sods  uptorn 
Encompassed  her ;  and  she  had  hollowed  out 
The  sand,  and  made  such  shelter  as  she  could. 
But  it  was  cold,  and  she  had  bowed  her  head 
Over  her  Ijabe,  herself  to  sleep  inclined — 
And  still  the  cry,  and  still  the  drowsy  croon. 

I  stood  amazed ;  for  in  the  Isle  of  Man 
Our  poor  are  not  neglected.     You  indeed 
Must  know  such  sights  familiar:    in  the  streets 
And  purlieus  of  great  towns,  the  homeless  wretch 
Is  never  wanting,  nor  the  country-side 


BELLA  GORRY  237 

Lacks  its  appropriate  vagabond — the  tramps 
Is't  not  ?  you  call  him — who  in  hedge  or  ditch 
Lies  hungry,  gazing  upward  to  the  stars. 
To  him  the  state  assigns  a  scanty  dole, 
Which  he  rejects.     Not  so  with  us — our  poor 
We  deem  God's  charge,  an  individual  care 
To  every  Christian  man,  which  whoso  slights 
God's  ordinance  slights — 

Therefore  I  stood  amazed  ; 
And  asked  her  who  she  was,  and  where  her  home. 
She  did  not  stir,  but  answered  moodily — 
"  My  name  is  Bella  Gorry  ;  and  I  have 
No  home  but  this."' — "Then  come  with  me,"  I  said; 
"  The  little  one  is  cold  :  it  is  not  fit 
That  you  should  lodge  Hke  this."     But  she  no  word 
Replied  \  only  she  tightened  that  close  grasp 
Wherewith  she  held  the  child ;  and  I  could  hear 
Deep  breathings  of  her  breast,  that  seemed  like  sighs — 
So  that  I  knelt,  and  prayed.     Then  to  my  prayer 
I  knew  that  she  attended.     Nay,  I  prayed 
In  all  humility :  for  now  I  felt 
I  was  confronted  with  the  deepest  wrong 
That  man  can  do  to  woman,  cause  for  shame 


2  38  BELLA  GORRY 

To  me  and  all  men.     So  I  prayed  that  God 

Would  pity  us,  and,  in  His  wisdom,  make 

This  wrong  thing  right ;  give  comfort  to  this  heart 

Nigh  broken,  and  dispose  her  to  remit 

Her  grief  to  Him,  and  to  regard  in  me 

His  minister  for  such  relief  designed. 

But  vain  my  prayer,  or  seeming  vain,  for  she 
All  proffered  aid  refused,  and  lifted  up 
At  last  her  head,  and,  with  unloving  words, 
15ade  me  be  gone.     I  went,  but  firm  resolved 
What  I  should  do.     The  earliest  light  of  morn 
Found  me  ujion  the  field,  where,  one  by  one, 
The  shearers  entered,  till  the  field  was  full. 
.•\nd  Bella  sheared— but  she  had  left  her  babe 
In  that  dry  hollow  far  among  the  bents. 
And  ranged  her  with  the  shearers.      Then  1  spoke 
To  some  I  knew  most  apt,  but  chief  to  him. 
The  master  of  the  farm,  a  soul  full  fraught 
With  love  and  active  goodness.     He  for  me 
A  willing  band  detached.     1  led  them  where 
The  child  lay  slcei)ing — in  its  little  hands 
Blue-bells  fast  clasped,  and  'neath  its  head  soft  moss, 


BELLA  GORRY  239 

Plucked  from  the  mooragh.     Then  a  little  girl, 
The  farmer's  daughter,  took  the  child,  and  fed  it 
With  milk,  and  nursed  and  danced  it  till  it  crowed. 


But  we  with  spade  and  pick  unceasing  worked 
Till  we  had  reared  the  framework  of  this  cot 
You  see.     Nor  did  the  mother  know,  before 
Noon  glowed,  and,  stealing  from  the  harvest  field, 
She  sought  her  child  :  and  she  was  well  content. 
And  when,  or  e'er  the  week  was  out,  the  roof 
Stood  thatched  and  necessary  furniture 
Of  bed  and  board,  by  kindly  hands  supplied. 
Was  stored  within,  she  saw,  and  the  dull  cloud 
Broke ;  and  her  soul  was  lightened,  and  she  came 
To  me,  and,  with  the  rush  of  many  tears. 
Yet  guarded  by  a  fence  of  dignity, 
How  found  I  know  not,  she  poured  forth  her  thanks 
And  blessings.     So  it  was  that  Bella  came 
To  dwell  within  my  parish,  and  to  be 
My  friend  most  loved,  and  worthy  of  my  love. 

This  was  her  home ;  for  many  quiet  years 


240  BELLA  GORRY 

She  lived  within  these  walls,  and  had  such  peace 

As  theirs  may  be,  whose  purpose  is  to  guard 

One  precious  treasure,  being  all  that's  left. 

It  was  a  little  girl  that  made  her  glad— 

For  she  could  yet  be  glad— a  very  star 

To  light  her  life :  and  well  she  tended  it, 

And  saw  it  grow  in  beauty  and  in  strength  ; 

And  took  it  with  her  to  the  harvest  field. 

Or  other  work,  as  needs  she  must,  who  lived 

A  lonely  woman.     I  have  seen  the  babe 

Against  a  stook  soft  propped  of  drooping  sheaves 

Asleep,  or,  wakeful,  gazing  on  the  clouds  ; 

And  I  have  noted  how  the  field  was  hushed 

In  silence.     Only,  ever  and  anon, 

Some  woman's  heart  would  yearn  for  very  love, 

And  make  her  quit  her  shearing  rank  a  space, 

'I"o  kiss  this  flower  that  smiled  amid  the  corn. 

Then  would  some  strong  man  say — "  Let  me  kiss  too  " — 

But  others  said  that  it  was  naught,  and  murmured 

Of  evil  7iiays,  and  li}^hlness  not  rebuked^ 

And  sin  oimurin'^ed.     Still  the  baby  smiled  ; 

And  Hella  reaped,  and  answered  not  a  word. 


BELLA  GORRY  241 

So  'twas  one  day  I  came  into  the  field 
Where  she  was  reaping,  and  I  heard  the  voice 
Of  strong  contention — it  was  Henry  Tear, 
My  tenant — but  you  do  not  l<now  the  man — 
He  rents  the  glebe — a  worthy  soul  enough. 
And  not  ill-natured.     What  had  angered  him 
They  did  not  tell  me ;  possibly  some  slackness 
About  the  work,  and  how  the  women  lost 
Their  time.     He  did  not  see  me  :  hot  and  fierce, 
I  heard  his  last  words  only.     Bella  stood 
Before  him,  pale  and  trembhng — "  Take  the  child 
Away  !  "  he  said,  "  and  bring  it  not  again  ! 
I  will  not  have  this  bastard  in  my  field." 
And  no  one  spoke. 

Then  from  behind  the  stook 
I  stepped,  and  took  the  little  one,  embraced, 
As  in  the  church  I  hold  them  at  the  font, 
So  by  the  altar  of  the  golden  sheaves 
I  held  the  child,  and  signed  her  with  the  cross. 
And  said  Christ's  words — ah,  blessed,  blessed  words  ! 
How  we  should  suffer  them  to  come  to  Him, 
And  not  forbid  them,  for  of  such  God  ma  Ices 
His  kingdom.     And  I  turned  to  Tear,  and  said — 

R 


2  BELLA  GORRY 

"  You  must  become  even  as  this  little  child, 
If  you  would  enter  heaven  at  the  last. 
Then  let  it  lie,  a  little  piece  of  heaven 
Upon  your  field." 

But  he  was  much  rebuked, 
And  leaned  his  arms  upon  the  hedge,  and  leaned 
His  face  upon  his  arms,  and  strove  to  hide 
His  shame — and  I  remember  it  so  well — 
That  is  the  field,  high  up  upon  the  brow, 
Near  the  cliff's  edge — it  was  a  lovely  day, 
But  hot  with  hum  of  bees,  and  glare  of  sand, 
And  thunder,  and  the  trouble  of  the  shearing, 
And  Tear  was  angry ;  but  I  conquered  him. 
You  smile — ah  well — you  are  quite  right — I'm  not 

A  man  to  conquer anything,  perhaps — 

Nay,  sir,  the  thing  is  so — and  yet  we  have 

Our  little  triumphs — little  vanities. 

No  doubt,  were  better  said ;  but  God  knows  all — 

Knows  all  —  knows  all  —  knows  all.     But  think  not, 
sir, 

The  little  one  was  not  baptized  before, 

.\nd  dedicate  to  God  with  holy  rite. 

'Twas  but  my  i)arable,  a  way  to  reach 


BELLA  GORRY  24: 

The  good  man's  heart,  for  he  was  really  good, 
And  felt  it.     So  our  little  Sarah  grew. 

Now,  as  she  grew,  she  lacked  not,  as  beseemed 
Her  age,  for  sweet,  or  toy,  or  cap,  or  frock, 
Gay  ribbon,  cloak  as  gay.     Good  Bella's  store 
Sufficed  for  all ;  nor  would  she  have  her  child 
Stinted  of  ought.     It  seemed  as  if,  beside 
Her  love,  she  had  a  need  of  some  delight 
In  form  and  colour,  some  embodiment 
Of  dreams,  ideals,  nurtured  in  the  waste 
Of  hope  forlorn,  and  purpose  unfulfilled — 
Imperfect  turned  to  perfect,  dark  to  dawn — 
God's  magic  for  great  sorrows. 

So  she  wrought, 
Instinctive  artist,  coveting  the  grace 
Of  utmost  finish  for  the  one  pure  gem 
Saved  from  her  life-wreck  :  so  it  seemed  to  me, 
Much  pondering  how  the  sweet  fantastic  joy 
Expanded  to  an  outlet  of  constraint — 
Uncertain — certain,  simple  recompense 
Ordained  of  God  for  women  who  have  loved 
And  lost,  yet  cherish  beauty,  knowing  it 


244  BELLA  GORRV 

A  good,  although  it  has  not  been  to  them 

A  good.     To  them  a  little  child  becomes 

The  glory  of  the  prime,  the  incarnation 

Of  that  which  should  have  been,  nay  was,  and  is 

For  ever  glowing  in  the  secret  depths 

That  feed  the  springs  of  action — from  what  type 

Of  mean  inadequate  idol  caught,  what  hero 

Proved  unhcroic,  matters  not,  it  seems. 

Since  love  transfigures  baseness. 

You  have  seen  them 
Doubtless,  these  mothers — and  you  have  observed 
How  fierce  they  often  are,  what  stern  regard, 
What  fire  ascetic,  jealous,  watchful,  burns 
In  her  poor  eyes,  7i.<Jio  holds  her  babe  a  trophy 
Snatched  fearful  from  the  vanquished  f eld  of  lot'e^ 
And,  as  a  trophy,  decked.     No  words  of  mine. 
Dear  sir,  I  beg  to  say — I  mean,  tliat  Higlit 
.\bout  the  trophy.     'Twas  Professor  Jones 
Of  Oxford,  reinforcing  my  poor  speech 
One  day — Professor  Jones — Professor  Jones — 
.\  very  clever  man.      I'.iit  I  rebuked  him, 
For,  though  we  pity,  we  should  not  encourage, 
Nor  clothe  with  specious  names  what  God  has  cursed. 


BELLA  GORRY  245 

Professor  Jones  was  here  ?     Oh  yes — you  know  him  ? 
You  are  from  Oxford  ?  really  !  ah  then 
You'll  understand  how  the  Professor  smiled 
His  weary  Oxford  smile,  and  said  no  more. 

But  I  apologise.     I  loved  the  child. 
I  loved  her  very  much.     And  I  have  gone 
And  watched  the  mother  playing  with  her  child, 
Myself  unseen,  and  marked  the  greediness 
Of  her  great  love  ;  until,  one  Saturday, 
My  sermon  finished,  ere  the  sun  had  set, 
I  went  to  Bella's  cottage.     She  had  washed 
The  little  one,  and  laid  it  like  a  pearl 
Upon  her  breast.     Then  I  entranced  beheld 
The  glory  and  the  splendour  of  the  babe, 
And  Bella  lifted  her  upon  the  bed. 
And  asked  that  I  would  pray.     Then  side  by  side 
We  knelt  and  prayed :  and,  as  I  prayed,  I  saw 
The  crimson  flush  that  entered  at  the  door 
Pass  straight  between  us  to  the  sleeping  child, 
As  it  had  been  its  angel.     When  I  rose, 
Bella  remained  upon  her  knees,  her  face 
Deep  hidden  in  the  coverlet,  nor  moved 


246  BELLA  GORRY 

Before  I  left.     O  sir,  what  strange  sweet  throb 
Surprised  my  lieart ! but  these  are  difficult  things. 

So  little  Sarah  grew,  till  she  could  run 
Upon  the  shore,  and  gambol  at  my  side. 
And  often,  when  her  mother  was  a-field, 
I'd  find  her  all  alone,  but  well  content, 
As  trusted  now  to  "keep  the  house,"  yet  free, 
At  my  proposal,  to  relax  her  care, 
And  scurry  on  the  sand,  and  see  my  dog 
Rush  open-mouthed  upon  the  waves,  and  bark. 
And  bark  again — she  loved  to  hear  him  l)ark. 

And  Sarah  grew,  and  was  no  more  a  babe, 
Hut  a  great  girl.     Then  more  conspicuous  seemed 
i'oor  Bella's  taste  fantastic — certainly. 
Fantastic — that  was  it— a  string  of  beads. 
Wreathed  cunningly,  a  bow,  a  belt,  the  hair — 
The  everything  so  different,  and  then 
The  subtler  diflerence  that  lay  behind. 
And  she  wore  shoes  the  daintiest  that  are  made, 
And  stockings — violet,  or,  haply,  pink. 


BELLA  GORRY  247 

Or  blue — whereas  our  children  here  go  barefoot. 
And  this  gave  much  offence :  our  farmers'  wives 
Were  angry  at  these  capers — that's  their  word — 
These  ways  eccentric,  alien,  scandalous — 
They  said  the  child  was  like  a  gipsy  child ; 
They  said  the  child  was  like  a  ino?ikey  perched 
UpoJi  a  barrel-organ  in  the  street, 
Or  some  wild  changeling,  draggled  through  a  fair 
To  dance,  and  sniirlc,  and  shake  the  tambourine, 
And  grow  to  be  a  wanton — so  they  said. 

But  I,  to  whom  the  unfamiliar  garb 
Seemed  not  excessive,  wedded,  as  it  was. 
To  modesty,  and  scrupulous  cleanliness — 
I  could  not  blame  it ;  nay,  it  had  a  charm 
For  me,  a  charm  of  novelty  and  grace — 
The  break  of  dull  monotony  ;  as  if 
Some  day  among  the  gulls  upon  the  beach 
I  should  perceive  a  bird  of  paradise, 
Or  mark  a  fire-fly  in  the  dusky  bents. 
Yet,  when  the  little  one  was  old  enough 
To  come  to  school,  and  I  had  fixed  the  day. 
And  all  was  ready,  I  had  many  fears — 


248  BELLA  GORRY 

Indeed  I  all  but  asked  to  see  her  dressed 

That  morning,  ere  she  left  her  mother's  hand, 

But  did  not  venture  :  only,  when  she  came, 

I  bade  the  mistress  thoroughly  examine 

Each  hem,  and  stitch,  and  gore,  and  plait,  and  seam, 

And,  if  need  he,  abate,  or  modify. 

Moreover  I  contrived  to  bring  two  friends. 

Lady  parishioners,  mature  in  years, 

Into  the  school  that  day ;  who,  when  they  saw. 

Approved,  and  were  surprised  :  the  child  was  dressed 

Like  other  children,  only  wondrous  neat — 

Indeed,  sir,  I  was  thankful,  recognising 

The  plastic  spirit  of  my  humble  friend. 

And  how  she  caught  the  cue  of  circumstance. 

So  all  was  well,  and  Sarah  grew  apace, 
And  was  an  excellent  scholar,  apt  and  good. 
And  she  had  much  of  native  dignity. 
And  calm  control,  well  suited  to  abash 
Our  rougher  lads :  and,  even  before  she  left 
The  school,  she  looked  so  stately  and  so  pure. 
So  sweetly  tolerant,  and  yet  so  firm 
Of  principle,  being  resolute  for  good 


BELLA  GORRY  249 

Above  all  else,  that  evil  things  withdrew 

From  off  her  virgin  path  ;  and  vulgar  phrase, 

And  gesture  loose,  nor  any  wicked  act. 

Could  e'er  approach  her — happy,  happy  such — 

O  sir,  how  happy  !  who,  as  in  the  sphere 

Of  their  own  crystal  purity  contained, 

Are  naturally  safe,  and,  effortless, 

Compel  the  baser  elements — how  fcAv, 

God  knows.     For  is  it  not  a  weary  strife 

With  most  of  us,  our  peace,  if  peace  we  have. 

The  fruit  of  mere  exhaustion  ? — ah,  God  knows — 

And  God  knows  too — but  'tis  a  happier  knowledge — 

What  preparation  in  the  silent  depths 

Of  these  white,  virginal  souls  is  made,  what  conflict. 

Perhaps,  of  other  essences,  to  them 

External,  viewless  powers,  keeps  beating  back 

The  incursive  ill,  and  still  unbroken  holds 

That  limited  space  wherein  they  walk  secure — 

So  in  the  moving  centre  of  a  storm 

There  is  a  core  of  quiet,  is  there  not  ? 

In  such  a  place  as  this,  I  need  not  say, 
The  children  at  our  school  cannot  remain 


2  50  BELLA  GORRV 

Beyond  the  term  prescribed  by  homely  needs, 

And  exigence  of  labour.     Sarah  stayed 

Up  to  her  sixteenth  year,  a  privilege 

Not  many  of  our  working  class  obtain, 

For  her  by  Bella  eagerly  desired, 

And  jealously  protected — and  the  girl 

Made  rapid  progress,  justifying  all. 

And,  when  she  left,  her  mother  would  not  take  her 

To  work  upon  the  fields,  as  she  herself 

Was  wont,  but  sought  a  place  of  service  for  her 

In  Ramsey,  with  a  family  genteel. 

Yet  staid,  and  sober,  which  from  Liverpool 

Had  come  to  spend  the  summer :  and  with  them. 

When  they  returned  to  Liverpool,  she  went, 

To  be  their  servant  in  that  awful  ])lace. 

But,  ere  she  went,  we  had  our  Confirmation  ; 
And  Sarah  came  to  be  prepared  by  me  : 
And  she  impressed  me  much  as  one  well  girt 
\\'ith  Christian  armour ;  and  her  frame  of  mind 
\Vas  excellent.      I  Icr  answers,  whether  spoken. 
Or  written,  such  as  I  myself  indeed 
Would  not  have  been  ashamed  of ;  and,  in  truth, 


BELLA  GORRY  251 

Her  hand  was  always  wonderfully  dear. 
So  I  was  pleased  :  but  Bella  troubled  me. 

Her  tendency  to  gauds  broke  out  afresh 

On  this  occasion,  seeming  to  have  died 

As  she  grew  old ;  or,  possibly,  her  daughter 

Had  mitigated  it,  with  exquisite  tact, 

Suggesting  compromise,  and  ever  holding 

A  mean,  that  had  a  pathos  of  its  own, 

So  happily  did  she  propitiate 

Her  mother's  foible,  subtly  indistinct 

In  her  distinction — as  she  managed  it. 

But  now  dear  Bella  hankered  for  a  cap, 
So  frizzed,  beribboned,  done  about  with  lace 
And  gauze,  wherewith  her  daughter  should  appear 
Before  the  Bishop,  that  I  knew  his  lordship 
Would  be  quite  scandalised.     Debate  ran  high 
For  quite  a  week  between  herself  and  me  ; 
And  I  was  vexed.     But  Sarah  made  it  right- 
Yet  not  without  some  risk  of  public  blame — 
She  wore  no  cap  at  all ;  and  never,  sir. 
Was  Bishop's  hand  laid  on  a  lovelier  head. 


2  52  BELLA  GORRY 


So  Sarah  was  confirmed,  and  went  to  England  ; 
And  Bella  had  no  doubts ;  she  knew  her  child. 
Nor  is  there  any  tragedy  behind 
My  simple  story — ruin,  sir,  and  death — 
Thank  God !  it  was  not  thus,  and  could  not  be — 
I  say,  thank  God!  for  I  have  known  of  many 
Caught  in  the  snares  of  your  great  Liverpool, 
Burned  in  the  fire  of  your  great  Liverpool, 
Cast  forth  like  ashes  on  the  unhallowed  streets 
Of  your  great  Liverpool.      An  awful  place 
I  said  it  was  ;  and  so  it  is  to  us. 
To  us,  sir,  anxious  for  our  children's  good, 
Our  children's  life.     Oh  yes  !  I  know  there  are 
Good  men  in  Liverpool,  else  Sodom's  doom 
Had  fallen  upon  her  long  ago,  who  asks 
The  annual  tribute  of  our  shame — pollutes. 
Devours — O  God  !  to  think  of  it  is  death  ! 

Good  men  in  Liverpool — yes,  sir,  oh  yes — 
Undoubtedly — I  know  some  clergymen 
In  Liverpool,  who  arc  most  excellent, 
Most  admirable  men  in  every  way — 
There's  Mr. I  forget  his  name  his  church 


BELLA  GORRY 

Is  somewhere really  I  can't  remember — 

You  see,  your  Liverpool  is  such  a  place, 
Enormous,  is  it  not  ?  and  most  confusing. 
You  think  I'm  prejudiced — perhaps  I  am — 
But  you'll  allow  it  is  confusing,  sir, 
Confusing  to  a  stay-at-home  like  me — 
Well, "well — I  do  not  like  your  Liverpool. 

But  Sarah  was  not  easily  confused  : 
She  could  walk  steadily  where  others  swerve 
And  stagger  from  the  track.     Her  feet  were  firm 
And  supple  with  the  elasticity 
Of  innocence  and  maidenly  resolve — 
God  giving  her  strength,  God  answering  our  prayers, 
Refreshing  her  according  to  her  need. 
Nay,  filling  her  with  light ;  so  that  each  year, 
When  she  came  back  to  see  us,  she  was  good. 
And  absolutely  incorrupt  as  ever — 
Unchanged  indeed,  save  only  that  sweet  change 
Which  comes  of  larger  life,  more  copious  flow 
Of  impulse  ever  chastened,  broader  space 
Of  soul,  reflecting  more  variety 
Of  forms— as  when  a  little  mountain  stream 


2  54  BELLA  GORRY 

Swims  out  into  the  figure  of  a  lake, 
And  mirrors  all  the  sky,  and  all  the  clouds. 
Such  change  was  added  beauty,  perfect  joy. 
And  balance  of  a  heart  that  knew  no  fear — 
Sarah  was  fearless ;  that  you  saw  at  once — 
Yet  so  affectionate,  and  simply  kind. 

It  was  a  real  little  festival 
When  she  came  home  to  see  us  :  ever)'  face 
Was  brighter  for  her  look,  such  interest, 
And  such  excitement,  in  the  parish  here  ! 
For  half  a  mile  upon  the  Ramsey  road 
The  people  from  the  cottages  came  out. 
And  waited  for  the  cart,  the  Parson's  cart, 
Which  always  brought  her  from  the  boat.     Indeed 
The  first  time  that  she  came  I  did  not  care 
To  be  among  them  :  but  the  second  time 
I  lingered  at  the  corner  of  the  lane  ; 
.\nd  when  they  saw  me,  all,  with  one  consent. 
But  tacitly,  held  back,  as  though  they  thought 
It  was  for  me  to  welcome  her.     And  so 
It  came  to  be  a  custom  of  the  place  ; 
.\nd  I  was  always  there,  and  nothing  loth — 


BELLA  GORRY 

Such  little  things  make  up  our  round  of  life, 

And  are  the  landmarks  of  its  quiet  course  ; 

And  are  not  very  little,  after  all, 

For  those  who  value  simple  loyalty, 

And  have  respect  for  unpretending  worth. 

It  was  a  pleasant  and  a  happy  scene  : 
But  most  'twas  happy,  most  'twas  pleasant,  sir — 
To  me  at  least  'twas  most — to  see  how  Bella, 
From  mid-day  till  the  twilight  brought  her  hope. 
Upon  a  sandhill,  which  advanced  to  meet 
The  road,  sat  spotless  in  the  mere  perfection 
Of  cap  and  kerchief,  conscious  of  her  hearth 
Clean  swept,  and  all  the  cottage  bright  as  glass. 
And  so  for  hours  she  sat,  most  patiently 
Knitting  :  and,  now  and  then,  some  one  would  come- 
Most  frequently  myself — and  change  a  word 
Of  cheer,  and  in  the  very  quiet  of  her  tone 
Divine  the  gathered  loneliness,  that  now 
Expected  recompense,  as  justly  due 
To  all  those  wintry  longings  in  the  night. 
But  when  the  sunset  came,  and  that  great  joy 
Was  imminent,  then  Bella's  needles  clicked 


■5o 


-56  BELLA  GORRY 

Irregular,  and  from  her  trembling  hands 

Slipped  devious,  and  her  face  was  fixed  upon 

The  long  white  road,  and  from  her  eyes  dropped  tears. 

Then  came  the  cart ;  and  on  my  aiding  hand 

Sarah  leaped  light,  but  Bella  waited  still : 

And  wc  went  ui)  to  her.     So,  every  year, 

It  grew  to  be  a  custom,  as  I  said, 

A  ritual  of  observance  most  e.xact. 

Which  changed,  the  people  would  have  been  amazed. 

.\  Sabbath  time  for  Bella,  be  assured — 
A  blessed,  blessed  time  !  and  Sarah  brought 
Such  i)rescnts  for  the  children  all  about 
That  everywhere  the  little  ones  rejoiced. 
And  followed  her.     But  chiefest  bliss  to  me 
Was  in  the  evening,  when  the  day  was  fine. 
That  sacred  week,  for  well  it  might  l)e  called  so, 
While  Sarah  stayed  with  us,  to  see  them  walk, 
The  mother  and  her  child,  upon  the  shore. 
At  distance  I,  yet  near  enough  to  note 
The  close  embrace  of  interwoven  arms. 
Slow  step  harmonious,  stately  forms  erect. 
Yet  flowing  in  accordant  tenderness — 


BELLA  GORRY  257 

Tall  women  both,  yet  Bella  was  less  tall 
Than  Sarah,  grown  to  perfect  womanhood. 

Nine  years  had  passed,  and  still  our  Sarah  served 
In  the  same  house.     But,  when  the  tenth  year  came, 
Came  news  that  Sarah  was  to  be  a  wife 
Before  she  saw  us  next — a  man  well  off. 
Intelligent,  respectable,  who  loved  her, 
xA.nd  whom  she  loved — you  know  the  sort  of  man — 
Connected  with  some — oh,  a  worthy  man — 
Should  be  her  husband ;  and  from  marriage  bells 
Forthwith  they  twain  would  cross  the  sea,  and  make 
Some  stay  with  us — so  Sarah's  letter  said. 
But  Bella,  whatsoe'er  she  felt,  was  silent : 
Only  I  thought  I  saw  a  heavy  look — 
And  yet  perhaps  I  did  her  wrong ;  for  how 
Could  prospect  of  so  great  a  change  not  throw 
A  shadow  on  her  life  ?  which  having  passed. 
Bright  sunshine  would  succeed.     A  mother's  heart — 
'Tis  a  great  mystery,  sir,  a  mother's  heart. 

And  now  the  day  approached  that  they  should  come  ; 
And  Bella  seemed  as  if  an  inward  strife 

S 


2  58  BELLA  GORRV 

Had  ended,  and  her  soul  was  left  in  peace : 
And  she  addressed  her  to  the  patent  needs 
Of  service,  and  all  hospitable  cares. 
And,  when  they  came,  I  could  not  but  rejoice 
To  mark  how  radiant  Sarah  looked,  to  see 
Her  husband  too,  a  handsome  man,  well-grown, 
Well-set ;  kind,  honest  face,  and  honest  speech, 
Where  haply  failed  an  aitch,  as  reason  would, 
But  nothing  failed  of  modesty  and  truth  : 
Content,  I  grasped  his  hand. 

Then  Bella  asked 
If,  that  one  night,  in  her  old  cottage  home, 
She  might  have  Sarah  to  herself — '' Vou  were 
My  architect,"  she  said  to  me,  "  you  know 
How  far  accommodation  serves."     Whereat 
Her  husband  not  surprised,  we  speedily 
.\rranged  that  he  should  at  the  Vicarage 
Be  entertained,  my  guest.     ^Ve  supped  with  her, 
Then  left  them.     'Twas  a  i)leasant  night  of  stars, 
And  murmuring  ripples,  and  sweet  drowsy  winds, 
That  scarcely  .stirred  a  leaf.     .\ntl  I  was  glad 
To  make  the  accjuaintancc  of  our  Sarah's  husband. 
And  as  wc  walked  and  walked  :  and  I  could  see 


BELLA  GORRY  259 

That  he  was  most  intelligent, — acquainted 
With  much  that  lay  beyond  my  beat — the  arts 
Of  busy  life,  and  ways  of  toiling  men, 
And  springs  of  wealth  and  industry — 

We  walked. 
And  still  the  light  was  in  the  window,  still 
They  did  not  sleep,  and  it  was  getting  late. 
Then  he  to  me — "  I  will  draw  near,  and  know 
What  holds  them  watching  :  '  to  the  window  stept. 
And  looked  a  while,  then  beckoned  me  approach. 
But  silently ;  and  I  approached.     Then  he — 
"  Dear  sir,  you  are  a  clergyman.     In  God's  name 
I  bid  you  see  the  sight  that  I  have  seen." 

Then  through  the  opening  of  the  narrow  pane 
I  gazed,  and  saw  how  Bella  had  undressed 
Her  child,  as  long  ago,  when  she  and  I 
Had  prayed  beside  the  little  one.     But  now 
It  was  the  absolute  omnipotence 
Of  woman's  beauty  given  to  my  view. 
As  in  some  wondrous  dream  :  for  Bella  knelt. 
And  clasped  the  marble  of  her  daughter's  knees, 
And  kissed  the  softness  of  her  daughter's  breast, 


26o  BELLA  GORRV 

And  drank  the  music  of  her  daughter's  voice, 
And  seemed  to  take  assurance  of  each  sense 
That  this  dear  child,  thus  come  to  full  estate 
Of  bodily  form,  was  her  own  little  one, 
Flesh  of  her  flesh,  the  same  that  she  had  born 
And  nursed  in  sorrow,  now  complete  in  joy. 

Oh  physically,  sir,  it  was  supreme — 
This  Sibyl  clinging  to  this  Venus.     Nay, 
You'll  pardon  my  poor  fancy — classical, 
Perhaps — but  that  is  not  the  point — those  faces, 
Those  faces,  sir — that  worship,  and  that  smile — 
Love  !  if  this  was  not  love,  then  where  is  love  ? 
The  love,  the  smile,  the  face,  sir — either  face — 
Both  faces  in  an  ecstasy  of  love. 
"Nursing  the  baby" — so  I  said  to  him, 
Who  yet  again  would  look,  and  look  again : 
But  came  with  me  at  last ;  and,  reft  of  speech, 
And  in  our  hearts  the  murmuring  of  deep  awe, 
We  sought  the  Vicarage  ;  and,  ere  we  slept, 
I  prayed  for  all. 

Next  morning,  when  I  rose, 
I  found  him  up,  and  ready  to  descend 


BELLA  GORRY  261 

To  Bella's  cottage.     At  the  opened  door 
Stood  Sarah,  very  quiet.     In  her  eyes 
Methought  I  saw  a  trouble ;  but  she  spoke 
Her  greeting  with  a  voice  that  seemed  unmoved  : 
Then  bade  us  enter.     Which  when  we  had  done, 
She  gently  turned  the  coverlet ;  and  there 
Lay  Bella,  with  a  sunbeam  on  her  brow, 
A  bright  young  sunbeam — Bella,  sir,  was  dead. 

Of  course,  the  doctors  called  it  heart-disease — 
But  who  can  tell?     God  took  her  to  Himself; 

He  knows  the  time But  I  neglect  my  function — 

Westward  to  Jurby,  eastward,  as  I  said, 
The  coast  runs  level  to  the  Point  of  Ayre. 


THE    END 


Printed  by  R.  &  R.  CLARK,  Edinburgh. 


BY  THE  SAME   AUTHOR. 


FO'C'S'LE    YARNS,   including   Betsy  Lee   and   other 
Poems.     A  New  Edition.     Cro\^ni  8vo.     7s.  6d. 

The  Times  says  : — "The  author  of  these  Fo'c's'le  Yarns  has  the  fancy 
of  a  poet,  with  a  rare  command  of  harmonious  metre.  .  .  .  Altogether 
the  volume  is  one  which  we  read  with  pleasure  and  laid  down  with  re- 
luctance, and  there  are  verses  which  would  ring  in  our  ears  after  a  single 
perusal." 

The  Acade'iny  says  : — "They  are  all  more  or  less  tragic  ;  love  and  hate 
and  jealousy  are  then-  themes  ;  but  the  '  terribleness '  is  softened  by  true 
jjathos,  and  lightened  with  genuine  humour.  Even  in  these  bui'sts  of 
refined  emotion  conveyed  in  rough  words,  which,  while  forming  the  greatest 
charm  of  the  book,  are  felt  to  be  above  the  level  of  the  supposed  speaker, 
there  is  no  '  clap-trajj '  ;  and  in  the  forcible  painting  of  scenes  of  terror, 
like  the  drowning  of  Captain  Hugh,  there  is  no  touch  of  melodrama.  .  .  . 
But  they  are  strong  stories,  and  would  each  furnish  enough  plot  and 
enough  incident  for  a  novel  by  Mr.  Black  or  Mr.  Blackmore,  with  both 
of  which  -writers  the  author  has  some  affinity.  Add  touches  of  Mr. 
Browning  and  Bret  Harte,  and  you  have  a  rough  description  of  the  quality 
of  Fo'c's'le  Yarns." 

The  Athenceum  says  : — "He  has  WTitten  with  all  his  soul  and  all  his 
strength.  ...  A  conseqiience  of  this  sincerity  is  that  his  verse  should  gain 
him  friends  and  admirers  wherever  it  is  read,  and  that  he  should  be  as 
well  known  among  strangers  as  among  his  own  people.  .  .  .  Tom  Baynes's 
last  interview  with  his  mother,  and  the  Batlachrink  among  his  brother-in- 
law's  children,  which  are  worthy  of  a  jdace  beside  anything  of  the  kind 
in  modern  verse.  ...  It  must  be  noted,  however,  that  the  author's 
romance  is  never  so  striking  in  conception  or  so  successful  in  execution  as 
his  fun,  his  wit,  his  tenderness,  his  picturesqueness  of  life  and  character, 
or  his  dramatic  analysis  of  emotion." 

The  St.  James s  Gazette  says: — "He  has  written  some  jioems  which, 
apart  from  their  immediate  interest  as  pictures  of  a  life  little  known  to 
the  outside  world,  are  of  a  very  rare  order  in  respect  of  art.  ...  In  each 
yarn  there  are  cousi^icuous  threads  of  sentiment  and  fancy.  The  jiassiou 
is  so  highly  wTought  as  almost  to  ajjpear  out  of  harmony  with  the  simjjle, 
easily-flowing  verse  ;  the  action  is  carried  almost  to  melodrama.  .  .  .  All 
are  written  in  a  rhymed  measure,  of  irregular  structure,  but  of  singular 
ease  and  freedom,  which  sometimes  rises  to  most  delicate  music." 

The  Spectator  says  : — "What  he  has  done,  he  has  done  well — almost  to 
perfection.  He  has  given  us  a  fragment  of  living  experience,  cpiiveriug, 
if  we  may  say  so,  with  reality  ;  he  has  touched  the  sjiriugs  of  unexpected 
laughter,  sometimes  of  unfamiliar  tears." 

The  Guardian  says  : — "  The  spirit  of  his  poems  is  warm  and  sympa- 
thetic.   .   .    .   There  is  real  pathos  in  the  yarns. " 


MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,  LONDOX. 


MESSRS.  MACMILLAN  AND  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

NEW  AND  ENL.VRGED  EDITION. 
THE  WORKS  OF  LORD  TENNYSON,  Poet  Laureate.     A  New  and 

Kiiiai.;"!  K.iili..ii.     Willi  a  r..r!rail.     L'imuii  .^vn.     7s.  u.l. 
•.•  Tliis  Volume  couUins  all  Lord  Tkx.sysox's  Poems  imblished  in  book  form 

up  to  this  tillH'. 

COI'VKICIIT  KDITinX.     UNIloKM  WITH  THE  AI'.nVE. 
THE    COMPLETE    POETICAL    WORKS    OF    WILLIAM    WORDS- 

WiiKlll.  <".ipyri;;tit  lMiti"M.  With  an  liitn"liictioii  by  .InllN  Menu. i:v,  ami 
I'ortniit.     Crown  svo.     7».  <«1. 

VirrOKIA   KDITIOX. 

THE  WORKS  OF  WILLIAM    SHAKESPEARE.       Vol.    I.  Comedies. 

\    '    11     ||.~;..;i.-.      \ .  1.  111.   ria_..|i' >.      Iii:;\..i^.     ('l■o\vll^^.■.     I's.  i-acli. 

LETTERS  AND  LITERARY  REMAINS  OF  EDWARD  FITZGERALD. 

E'litfl  liv  W.  Ai.i>i.s  WiiHMiT,  .M..V.,  Vicc-.Master  of  Tiiiiicy  College,  Caiiibritlgo. 
3  Vi.ls.     ("ruwn  S\«.     :i.s,  t;<l. 

Vol.  I.  Letters.     Vul.  IL  Eupliranor,  Six  Drniiia.s  from  Calderon,  The  Bird 
Parlinmeiit,  The  Two  Generals.    Vul.  III.  Dramas  from  Calderon,  Greek  Dnmias, 

It'il'.Tiv.it  of  Otiirir  KIkivvmim,  ete. 

CHARLES  KINGSLEY'S  POEMS.  Coini-lete  CoUeoteil  Eiliti..ii. 
j.vKi{.>i.i:v  i;i'iiitt.N.    •:  v..i.s.    (;i..i,o  sv,,.    lo.s.   collected  wohks 

EDlTKt.V.     Cmwii  8vo.     Us.     l'oi»UL.\H  EDITION.     Crown  8vo.    3s.  tjd. 
I'ihKKT  EDITION',     l.-^mn.     Clotli,  Is.  Od. 
POEMS,      r.v  ll"i;  AiK  .Smi  HI.     (Mobc  8vo.     5s. 
AFTER-THOUGHTS :    Poems.      Hy  Joseph   Tium.vn.      Crown  Svo. 

.-  '1. 
DAYS  AND  NIGHTS:  Poems.    I'.y  Ainiiuu  Svmons.    Globe  Svo.     6s. 
Till-  S"t.t  iii,vir,r  s:iys  :  —  "His  tales  arc  told  with  skill  and  pathos,  and  his 

ri-  r!'-'^  Jur.-ii  -f  is  iii.viT  allnwrd  t"  ll.'i'-'." 

VENETIA  VICTRIX;  and  other  Poems.     By  C.vkomnk  Fitzgehald. 

y.\-     ■    ■  'M. 

Till  ivs: — "  Vrnctia  y'ictrix  is  in  uiatiy  res])octa  a  line  poem. 

It  -'■■  il  strength,  and  courage.  .  .  .  Miss  Fitzgerald's  volume 

:  — "Tliere  Is  plenty  of  powerful  writing,  and  the  diction, 
pjiiH'ciniiy  in   i  riirlia   I'iclriT,  is  sustained  at  no  common  level.     The  authoress 

PVinepH,  too,  eiiiiHiileralili-  rft]HieitV  for  Ivrie  verse." 

SKETCHES  OF  RURAL  LIFE  :  Poems.     My  FuAXCis  LvvAs.     Extra 
BATTLE    AND    AFTER;     concerning    Sergeant    Thomas    Atkins, 

iiiiiia.liir  iiuiiils:  « il  li  hIIht  \itms.  |!y  li.  ."~i.  .Imis  Tvicwiiiit,  Christ 
Cliuri'li,  Oxford,  Anllior  of  "  Free  Field,"  "Onr  Sketching  Clul),"  "A  lland- 
»»«x)k  of  Pictorial  Art."     Cilidic  Svo.     3k.  tVl. 

A  NEW  VOLU.ME  OF  I'OEMS  IJV  MR.  f;EORGE  MEHEDITH. 

A  READING    OF    EARTH.      I5y    Gi-oitcK    Mkuekith,    Antlmr    of 

■'  r .»  .III. I  I.yin'i  i.f  till'  .l.iy  of  I'.'artli,  "  "  llallads  ami  I'oenis  of  Tr»K'i<^  Life." 

Extra  reap.  Hvo.     !it. 

\  NEW  VOIJ'ME  OF  I'OE.M.S  I'.V   .Ml:.   ALFKED  AUSTIN. 

LOVES  WIDOWHOOD;  and  other  Poems.  My  Ai.kukd  Afsrix, 
-^  ".Siilil(>i|UleH  in  .Song."  "  At  the  Gote  of 

t  1  iiice  Lucifer,"  etc.     Crown  Hvo.     Os. 

HEAlUbLAbL    AND    KUL.     i'ucms   by  Jame.s    Rl'ssei.i.    Lowei.i,. 


MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,   Ln.NDON. 


TITK   T  H'JmI^Y 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA   LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
Tim  book  L>  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


ii  I.O-r.fiin  7  T. 4 'T.fMiii  1  44  I 


^^■i^ 


u^  ouu  I  ncniM  ntblUNAL  LIBHAHY  FACILITY 


III  mil  1 1 


AA    000  366  547 


llllilMlllii 


3  1158  00599  2408 


